6 Maguindanao cops want issuance of arrest warrants deferred

MANILA, Philippines - Six policemen implicated in last year’s Maguindanao massacre asked a Quezon City court yesterday to defer the issuance of warrants of arrest against them and for them to be able to post bail.

Lawyer Tahir Lidasan, counsel for Chief Inspectors Sukarno Dicay and Abdul Gapor Abad, Police Officer 3 Rasid Anton and Police Officers 1 Michael Macarongon, Mohammad Balading and Johann Diappan, said his clients are already in custody of their superior officers at Camp Crame.

The evidence against them is not strong, he added.

The Department of Justice has recommended that the six policemen be included in the murder charges filed against Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr.

They were among the 197 persons, including clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr., indicted in the amended information submitted in court.

They also asked for their continued confinement to quarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City.     – Reinir Padua