CA junks another Ampatuan’s plea in massacre case

MANILA, Philippines—The Court of Appeals threw out Datu Anwar Ampatuan’s plea to  drop charges against him in the gruesome Maguindanao massacre.

The court, in an 18-page decision, found no reason to dismiss the findings of the Department of Justice, implicating Ampatuan in the November 23, 2009 slaughter of 57 people, including media workers, in Maguindanao.

The appellate court said the former Shariff Aguak mayor should face trial for 57 counts of murder in connection with the Maguindanao massacre.

The DoJ in its May 5, 2010 resolution finds probable cause to include Ampatuan as among the accused in the mass murder.

Last Thursday, the appeals court 16th division also dismissed a similar appeal of Akmad Ampatuan.

The court ruled that the DoJ did not abuse its discretion in ordering the filing of the case against Akmad.

Only the appeal filed by former Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan questioning the DoJ resolution is pending before the Court of Appeals.