Ampatuan patriarch to be arraigned Thursday

MANILA, Philippines—A court in Pasay City has set the arraignment of the principal accused in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre on Thursday, a Radyo Inquirer 990AM report said.

In the hearing at Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 112 earlier Tuesday, Presiding Judge Jesus Mupas ruled that former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. be arraigned on March 15 to enter either his “not guilty” or “guilty” plea in relation to the electoral sabotage case filed against him.

Court spokesperson Felda Domingo, however, was quoted as saying that the only problem which could cause the delay of the arraignment was the health condition of Ampatuan, who was rushed Friday to the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center after “vomiting blood.”

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology chief Director Rosendo Dial earlier said that Ampatuan had been sick with hypertension, diabetes and skin disease since his detention at the Quezon City jail annex in Camp Bagong Diwa in 2009.

The patriarch of the Ampatuan, along with his son, Ampatuan Jr. and several other members of their clan, is in  jail for allegedly for masterminding the Maguindanao massacre, where 58 people, including 32 journalists, were killed.  Radio report from Ruel Perez, Radyo Inquirer 990AM