Zaldy Ampatuan finally arraigned

Zaldy Ampatuan: Finally arraigned. AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—After almost a three-year wait, a third member of the political clan accused of masterminding the 2009 Maguindanao massacre was finally arraigned on Wednesday.

Like two other relatives arraigned before him, Zaldy Ampatuan pleaded not guilty to 57 counts of murder filed against him and 195 others at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221.

During the arraignment, Zaldy, who was brought down from his detention cell a floor above the makeshift courtroom at the Quezon City Jail Annex in Taguig, was clad in the regulation yellow prison uniform, but was wearing a traditional Muslim cap.

Zaldy had tried to have his lawyer Sigrid Fortun enter the plea in his stead, but finally piped up, “I’m not guilty, your honor,” when prodded by Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes to personally enter a plea.

Zaldy was soon ushered out back to his cell. As he exited the courtroom with a polite smile, some of the kin of the massacre victims were overheard as describing him as “ngiting-aso” (insincere).

State prosecutors in the hearing told the Inquirer that Zaldy is the third Ampatuan to be arraigned, of eight already arrested. At least 12 members of the Ampatuan family are accused in the case, they said.

Zaldy’s father, former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., and his brother former Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. have also been arraigned in previous years, since the hearing began in 2010.

On Nov. 23, 2009, a convoy of 58 people—including 32 journalists—were waylaid and killed in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao, by more than 100 militia men, allegedly on orders of the Ampatuans.

The victims were on their way to file the certificate of candidacy for governor of political challenger Esmael Mangudadatu, then Buluan town vice-mayor. Mangudadatu’s wife and sister were among the massacre victims.

Mangudadatu, who went straight to Zaldy’s arraignment after arriving in Metro Manila only hours prior, said, “I am happy he is finally arraigned.”

The Maguindanao governor, however, said he was “discontented” at the proceedings taking a little over two years. “We have presented more than a hundred witnesses and this is only the third Ampatuan arraigned,” Mangudadatu said, in an interview during a recess in Wednesday’s hearing.

“They should have heard the case against the Ampatuans and the principal accused first, so the hearing would move faster. It took this long because the hearing already includes the personnel,” Mangudadatu mused.

Lead state prosecutor Archimedes Manabat explained the delay in Zaldy’s arraignment was due to a motion Zaldy filed in the Supreme Court to be excluded from the massacre case, which was denied with finality by the high court last week.