MANILA, Philippines?The lawyer of Andal Ampatuan Jr. is asking a Quezon City court to allow newspaper articles on a rebel leader owning up to the Maguindanao massacre as evidence in the trial against him.

In a comment before Regional Trial Court Branch 221, defense lawyer Sigfrid Fortun sought the inclusion of more than 10 news stories and columns in the list of defense evidence.

The articles were about a supposed commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), ?Kumander Dalawie,? who claimed responsibility for the massacre and said his group did it to get back at Ampatuan.

The news stories came out separately in the Aug. 12, 18, 19, 20 and 24, and Sept. 1 issues of different tabloids and newspapers.

Among the publications Fortun cited were tabloids Remate, Tiktik, Bulgar, Peoples? Tonight and Abante, and broadsheets The Daily Tribune and The Manila Times.

In the articles, the rebel leader alleged that they were at odds with Ampatuan Jr., a former Datu Unsay town mayor, for allegedly helping the military in its operations against the MILF.

His supposed confession was through an interview that was posted on Youtube, a video sharing Internet website.