QC court fails to arraign Andal Sr.

MANILA, Philippine - Private prosecutors and the families of the Maguindanao massacre victims today expressed dismay over a Quezon City court’s failure to arraign former Maguindanao Andal Ampatuan Sr.

Lawyer Nena Santos, legal counsel of Maguindanao governor Esmael Mangudadatu, said they were disappointed when the arraignment of Andal Sr. on the multiple murder charge did not push through.

"Everybody is disappointed," Santos told reporters outside the makeshift courtroom inside Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.

Santos said they are expecting the arraignment of not only Andal Sr., the alleged mastermind of the Nov. 23, 2009 carnage, but all of those already detained for the case.

"But in fairness to the judge, she does not want a special treatment of Andal Sr.," she said.

During the court proceedings, Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes told Assistant Regional State Prosecutor Peter Medalle that the "court will issue an order not later than Friday."

Medalle has requested Judge Reyes to already arraign all of the detained accused in the case.

He said it is up to Judge Reyes to set the arraignment of the accused.

"It's up to the court if Andal Sr. and others accused will be arraigned," Medalle said.

For his part, Mangudadatu said he and his four brothers who attended today's hearing were excited to witness the expected arraignment of the Ampatuan clan patriarch.

"Nag-pray sana na matuloy na (arraignment). Lima kami ngayon dito at excited kami na makita ‘yung arraignment," Mangudadatu told reporters at the sidelines of the court proceedings.

Earlier, Andal Sr.'s lawyer, Sigfrid Fortun, submitted a motion to the court for voluntary arraignment.