Ampatuan kin, others seek bail

FIFTEEN more accused in the Maguindanao massacre, including Sajid Ampatuan, have appealed to the Quezon City court trying their case to grant them bail for their temporary freedom.

In separate bail petitions, the 15 said there was not enough evidence to indict them for the massacre in which 57 people were brutally murdered in Ampatuan, Maguindanao, on Nov. 23, 2009.

They also told Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of Regional Trial Court Branch 221 that the statements used against them had been fabricated.

Aside from Ampatuan, the other petitioners were Tato Sampogao, Taya Bangkulat, Salik Bangkulat, SPO2 George Labayan, SPO1s Elizer Rendaje and Alimola Guinaton; PO3 Ricky Balanueco, PO2 Rexson Guiama; and PO1s Amir Solaiman, Ebara Bebot, Tamano Uadi, Michael Macarongon, Mahamad Balading and Bensidik Alfonso.

Ampatuan is a member of the clan, led by patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr., who are the principal suspects in the massacre that was allegedly perpetrated to stop a rival clan from filing candidacy papers for governor that would have challenged the Ampatuans’ hold on political power in Maguindanao and other areas of Mindanao.

Others of the almost 200 accused had unsuccessfully petitioned the court for bail.