Ampatuan grandsons appeal bail denial

MANILA, Philippines – Two grandsons of the late Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. on Thursday asked the Quezon City court handling the Maguindanao massacre trial to reconsider their plea for temporary freedom.

In a five-page motion for reconsideration, Anwar Ampatuan and Sajid Anwar Ampatuan asked Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes to allow them to post bail.

They are appealing a Jan. 20 order, which denied their petition for bail in connection with the multiple murder case.

The accused – through their lawyers Renee Mae Collado and Jo Ellaine Collado – said the evidence presented against them was not enough to establish that they took part in the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre.

In her ruling, Solis-Reyes said the prosecution was able to present strong evidence that would warrant the continued detention of the two suspects while the trial is ongoing.