Zaldy A. arraignment set today

MANILA, Philippines - Three years after his arrest for the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre, former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Zaldy Ampatuan may finally be arraigned today on the multiple murder charges filed against him.

Until yesterday, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 did not receive any motion asking Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes to overturn her earlier decision ordering the arraignment of Ampatuan.

The court has likewise issued an order notifying the warden of the Quezon City Jail-Annex at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig to produce Ampatuan for his arraignment at 9 a.m. today.

Senior Inspector John Conrad Basilio, jail warden, said security will be tightened in the courtroom at the camp and in areas near the jail.

Last week, Solis-Reyes resolved Ampatuan’s motions asking for the deferment of his arraignment pending various petitions filed before the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court.

In her decision, Solis-Reyes noted that the CA and SC have already resolved these motions and upheld the indictment of the former ARMM governor.

“A personal and independent determination was made that there was a need to continue to hold accused-movant under detention in order not to frustrate the ends of justice, contrary to his claim that the (judicial) finding of probable cause was based on the findings of the prosecutors,” the judge said.

According to court sheriff Nestor Rivera, Ampatuan refused to sign the acknowledgment receipt when he was served a copy of the decision.

“He… told me that he would have to talk to Atty. Sigmund Fortun before he will receive the said order,” Rivera said, adding that he just left Ampatuan with a copy of the order after the latter failed to talk with his counsel.

Meanwhile, a court document showed that a copy of the order was received by Fortun’s firm.

Murder by numbers

Should his arraignment push through today, Ampatuan will be the third member of his clan and the 82nd suspect to be arraigned for the massacre, which claimed the lives of 58 people, including at least 32 media practitioners. The two others are his father, former Maguindanao governor Andal Sr.; and his brother, former Datu Unsay mayor Andal Jr.

Ampatuan claimed he was innocent, that he was in Davao City en route to Manila when the massacre happened. 

Prosecution witnesses belied his claim. One of them, Lakmodin Saliao, a former househelp of the clan, told the court Ampatuan was present when the family reportedly planned the massacre over dinner in September 2009.

Based on court records, only 100 of the initial 197 suspects have been arrested, including Police Officer 1 Johann Draper, whose case has since been dismissed, and PO1 Hernani Decipulo, who committed suicide earlier this year. Fifty-seven of those arrested have filed their respective petitions for bail.

Other members of the Ampatuan clan who have yet to be arraigned include former Shariff Aguak mayor Anwar Sr., Anwar “Datu Ipi” Jr., Anwar Sajid “Datu Ulo,” Datu Akmad Sr., and Datu Sajid Islam.