Court accepts prosecution evidence vs Zaldy Ampatuan bail

MANILA, Philippines—A Quezon City court has decided to admit the prosecution’s evidence in opposition to the bail petition of Zaldy Ampatuan, the former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, who is now one of the accused in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre.

In a 38-page order, Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of Regional Trial Court Branch 221 ruled to admit 300 pieces of evidence, including testimonies and exhibits.

Zaldy Ampatuan AFP FILE PHOTO

The ruling came a week after the court also issued an order on the prosecution evidence of Zaldy’s father, Andal Sr., and 11 other accused.

The court decided to admit the complaint-affidavit of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, whose wife Genalyn and other female relatives were among the 58 people killed on Nov. 23, 2009

The court also admitted as evidence sworn statements of various witnesses, as well as the medico-legal reports, autopsy pictures, anatomical sketches of the cadavers done based on the description of the witnesses, and records from telecommunications companies.

Likewise accepted as prosecution evidence were the testimonies of Mangudadatu, former Ampatuan vice mayor Rasul Sangki, accused-turned-state witnesses Sukarno Badal and Esmael Canapia, and eyewitnesses Noh Akil, Lakmodin Saliao, and Esmail Amil Enog.

The ruling only covered the bail petition in the 57 murder cases, since prosecutors separately filed their formal offer for the 58th case.

However, the court rejected the sworn statements and testimonies of suspects Mohamad Sangki, Rex Ariel Diongon, and Rainier Ebus, given the court’s earlier denial of their bid to be state witnesses.

Photographs of the alleged armored personnel carrier used in the incident were also not admitted.

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