Massacre accused now witness

The Court of Appeals (CA) has dismissed a petition questioning a Quezon City court order discharging former Sultan sa Barongis Vice Mayor Sukarno Badal as an accused in the Maguindanao massacre case in view of his admission into the Witness Protection Program.

The CA decision upholding the court order was promulgated on March 18 and received by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes on April 17.

The CA dismissed for lack of merit the petition for certiorari filed by accused Andal Ampatuan Jr. against Reyes, the Maguindanao massacre case prosecutors and the Department of Justice.

Citing Section 17, Rule 119 of the Rules of Court, the petitioner sought to annul the joint order issued by Reyes on Feb. 13, 2013, for failure to conduct a hearing. The joint order grants Badal’s motions to defer arraignment and to amend information to exclude him as an accused. Erika Sauler