CA reaffirms dismissal of contempt case vs Mangudadatu lawyer

The Court of Appeals building in Ermita, Manila. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/COURT OF APPEALS WEBSITE

MANILA, Philippines—The Court of Appeals upheld its ruling dismissing the contempt case filed by Andal Ampatuan Jr. against Nena Santos, lawyer of Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu in connection with the Maguindanao massacre case.

In a one-page resolution released Monday, the appeals court 10^th Division through Associate Justice Fernanda Lampas-Peralta said they are not swayed by the arguments raised by Ampatuan Jr.

“…The matters raised in the motion had been considered, weighed and passed upon the decision. The motion thus fails to present any new and substantial matter or any cogent and compelling reason which would warrant a reversal of the Court’s ruling,” the appeals court said.

Andal Ampatuan Jr., one of the principal accused in the death of 58 people including more than 30 journalists, said Santos should be cited in contempt for her July 2010 interview where she called as “harassment” to the families of the victims and witnesses the ambush of Richard Petisme, lawyer of Rasul Sangki.

The issue was raised first before Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes who said that such pronouncement “constitutes an opinion of the respondent [Santos]” and does not delve into the merits of the case.

This prompted Ampatuan to raise the issue before the appeals court who affirmed the lower court’s ruling.

The Maguindanao massacre trial started January 2010. Out of over 190 accused, only 90 are under arrest.