2 more accused in Maguindanao massacre seek bail

MANILA, Philippines—Two civilians indicted in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre case have joined some 50 other accused in asking a Quezon City court to let them post bail for their provisional liberty.

In two separate petitions, Bulatukan Omar Kayansang and Datutucon Melaguial Esmail sought bail for the multiple murder charges against them, which are non-bailable offenses.

The two civilians are among the 196 persons accused of massacring of 57 people on Nov. 23, 2009 in Sitio Masalay in Maguindanao province. The body of a 58 victim was never located although his identification card and other personal effects were found in an area where the perpetrators had buried the victims.

Several members of the Ampatuan clan, led by Andal Ampatuan Jr., are accused in the mass murder. Andal Jr. is alleged to have masterminded the plan to ambush the convoy of his political rival, the then Buluan vice mayor Ismael Mangudadatu.

In their petitions,  Kayansang and Esmail claimed that they were “baselessly implicated” in the massacre even as there was no direct evidence linking them to the massacre, and asked Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes to let them post bail.

Around 50 of the accused in the mass murder case have so far asked to be allowed to post bail, including Andal Jr. and several police officers.

Solis-Reyes’ court has yet to resolve any of these 16 pending petitions for bail.