Zaldy Ampatuan asks court for separate trial

MANILA, Philippines - Murder suspect Zaldy Ampatuan has asked a Quezon City court to try him separately from those other accused including relatives in the “Maguindanao massacre.”

In a motion filed before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221, Ampatuan’s lawyer Redemberto Villanueva cited the fact there are numerous accused in the multiple murder case and claimed that a delay in the resolution of the case “causes pre-judice” on his client.

Villanueva also cited the numerous pleadings and motions filed by both the prosecution and the different sets of lawyers for the several accused. “The deteriorating health condition of accused Zaldy Ampatuan makes the separation of the proceedings imperative and urgent. It is respectfully prayed of the Honorable Court to conduct, even at this stage of the case, a speedy and separate proceedings for Zaldy Ampatuan,” his motion stated.

The former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is among the 197 accused – including his father Andal Sr. and brother Andal Jr. – in the multiple murder case.

Justice Secretary Alberto Agra, at one point, overturned the resolution of government prosecutors and cleared Zaldy and Akmad Ampatuan of the charges. However, a review of his own decision that followed protests howled over his reversal of the indictment, led Agra to reinstate the cases against the two.

Recently, Zaldy cited shortness of breath and diabetes and asked for a medical exam. He also asked to see a government mental health doctor and mentioned bouts of depression, among others. Both were granted by the court.

According to the former ARMM governor, the case has attracted media attention not just locally but also internationally. He said the evidence that had been presented against them “had already taken its toll” on him.

Villanueva said that Zaldy has a different set of defense lawyers from the other accused in the case. He said Zaldy was never alleged to have been at the scene of the massacre when the crime was committed.

“In the event therefore that a joint proceeding is made, the rights of Zaldy Ampatuan will be seriously jeopardized,” the motion stated.