Judge defers arraignment of two Ampatuans

MANILA, Philippines - Almost four years since the trial of the accused in the Maguindanao massacre started, several members of the Ampatuan political clan have yet to be arraigned.

Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes deferred the arraignment of two of the three Ampatuans at a makeshift court in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City yesterday.

The arraignment of Sajid Islam Ampatuan and Akmad “Tato” Ampatuan was deferred pending the resolution of the omnibus motion that they filed before the court last week.

Sajid and Akmad, through lawyer Paris Real, said the separate petitions that they filed before the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court questioning their inclusion in the list of the accused have yet to be resolved.

Sajid is the son of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., while Akmad is the son-in-law and nephew of the clan patriarch.

Several members of the Ampatuan clan, including Andal Sr. and his sons Andal Jr. and Zaldy, were among those charged for the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre.

Earlier this month, Solis-Reyes ordered the arraignment of Sajid Islam, Akmad, and Anwar Ampatuan Sr. after junking their respective motions seeking dismissal of the case filed against them.

‘Not guilty’ for Anwar Sr.

Also yesterday, Anwar Sr. – another son of clan patriarch Andal Sr. – entered a not guilty plea for the 57 counts of murder filed against him. His arraignment pushed through after his lawyer manifested that his client is willing to proceed with his arraignment.

Anwar Sr. maintained that he did not kill anyone nor participated in the alleged meetings to plan the massacre.

“For about four years already, the prosecution has not proven anything except to delay Datu Anwar’s illegal incarceration through any and all conceivable means,” the manifestation added.

Suspects Butukan Malang and Edris Tikay Nanding were also arraigned yesterday.

Malang, who claims to be a victim of mistaken identity as his real name is Datukan Salibo, refused to enter a plea, saying he was in Saudi Arabia at the time of the incident. The court entered a not guilty plea for him.

Meanwhile, Nanding – the 106th suspect arrested for the massacre – entered a not guilty plea. He was arrested on May 28.

Nanding’s arraignment brings the total number of arrested suspects who entered a plea to 96.– With Marvin Sy