Maguindanao massacre: After 3 years, bail hearing still on

Defense lawyers in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre are asking a Quezon City court to throw out the prosecution’s objection to the petition for bail of former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., one of the primary suspects in the crime.

Defense lawyer Philip Sigfrid Fortun opposed the affidavit of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, saying it was “self-serving and does not prove any of the alleged facts relating to the deaths of his relatives.”

The defense lodged its nine-page opposition before Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 221.

In the pleading, Fortun said Mangudadatu’s affidavit and other prosecution evidence do not prove the purposes for which they are offered.

The defense urged the court to deny the prosecution evidence and exclude it in the resolution of Andal Sr.’s bail petition.

Last month, the prosecution submitted its 354-page formal offer of evidence against the bail petition of Andal Sr. and Chief Insp. Sukarno Dicay, former Maguindanao police chief.

The evidence was also in opposition to the petitions of Nasser Esmail, Nicomedes Tolentino, Armando Ambalgar, Misuari Ampatuan, Taya Bangkulat, Salik Bangkulat, Salipad Tampogao, Moktad Daud, Macton Bilungan and Mohades Ampatuan.

In September 2012, the prosecution concluded its presentation of evidence against the bail petition of primary accused Andal Jr. but up to now the court has yet to determine if it would admit the evidence.

Meanwhile, the court deferred last Wednesday the arraignment of suspect Talembo Masukat, in view of his appeal to the court to take judicial notice of the rulings of Cotabato RTC Branch 13 Judge Bansawan Ibrahim earlier this year.