Pichay, Claudio no longer Maguindanao massacre witnesses

MANILA, Philippines - The continuation of the bail hearings on the Maguindanao massacre trial was postponed this week after the prosecution panel decided to dispense with the testimonies of their witnesses, including that of former Local Water Utilities Administration head Prospero Pichay and former political advisor Gabby Claudio.

In a four-page motion filed before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221, City Prosecutor Archimedes Manabat asked Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes to cancel the hearings scheduled this week as they have decided to dispense with the testimonies of Pichay, Claudio, Zajid Mangudadatu, and Apisa Maglala.

Pichay and Claudio were supposed to testify during the hearings on the bail petition of former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan.

Earlier, Prosecutor Aristotle Reyes said the former government officials will testify on the alleged meetings held to warn former Buluan vice mayor and now Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu from running against the Ampatuan clan in the 2010 elections.