2 Ampatuan seek further delay to arraignment

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MANILA, Philippines—Two members of the Ampatuan clan are seeking to postpone their arraignment on  multiple murder charges arising from the 2009 Maguindanao massacre.

Sajid Islam Ampatuan and Akmad “Tato” Ampatuan asked for the deferment of their court date pending resolution of petitions to the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court questioning the charges against them.

Sajid Islam is the son of clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr. while Akmad is the nephew and son-in-law.

The two Ampatuans, in a five-page motion filed by lawyer Paris Real, urged the suspension of their arraignment until the higher courts resolve their petitions.

Previously, Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes junked their motions to have the charges against them dismissed. They were set to be arraigned on June 26 in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.

“The suspension of the arraignment of the aforesaid erroneously accused is warranted considering that the questioned resolution of the Department of Justice Secretary finding probable cause have not yet attained finality,” the latest pleading said.

Sajid’s petition is pending before the appellate court, while Akmad’s petition for certiorari is submitted for resolution by the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, lawyer Sherwin Real said his client Datu Anwar Ampatuan Sr., another son of Andal Ampatuan Sr., was willing to be arraigned on the charges.

Real also maintained the innocence of his client, saying, “The prosecution has not proven anything except to [prolong] Datu Anwar’s illegal incarceration through any and all conceivable means.”