Maguindanao massacre hearing reset

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The resumption of the Maguindanao massacre hearing has been reset to August 8, after defense lawyers opposed the motions of two of the accused to turn state witness.

The prosecution was supposed to present at Wednesday’s hearing policeman Rex Diongon and civilian Esmael Canapia after Quezon City Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes issued a July 24 order allowing them to speak in court to prove they are eligible to be discharged as state witnesses.

But on July 26, defense lawyers filed a motion for reconsideration on Reyes’ order. The motion became the subject of the oral arguments at Wednesday’s hearing at the Quezon City Jail Annex in Camp Bagong Diwa, in Taguig City.

Prosecution lawyers, led by Assistant State Prosecutor Olivia Torrevillas, argued that Diongon and Canapia’s testimonies were necessary, as they can identify police officers, civilians and militia members involved in the November 23, 2009 massacre of 57 people in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao which was allegedly masterminded by members the Ampatuan clan, including its patriarch former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. his son and namesake Andal Jr., the principal suspect.

The defense, led by lawyer Paris Real, argued that Diongon had a previous motion to discharge which was already denied by the court, and that he had a pending similar motion at the Court of Appeals.

“It would be a waste of time, effort and resources,” Real argued, referring to Reyes’ decision to allow Canapia and Diongon to prove in court their eligibility to be state witnesses.

Reyes decided to reset the hearing pending a resolution on the separate motions to discharge and the opposition to them.