Zaldy A. can’t attend son’s graduation

MANILA, Philippines - Former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Zaldy Ampatuan was not allowed by the Quezon City court handling the Maguindanao massacre case to attend his son’s high school graduation in Cotabato City today.

In a three-page order, Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes said attending a graduation was not among the circumstances listed in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) manual, which allows the movement and transfer of detainees.

The judge said that while the court understands Ampatuan’s wish to attend his eldest son’s graduation, she said she could not grant it as it would set a precedent for future requests by other accused.

Ampatuan – currently detained at the Quezon City Jail-Annex in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City – earlier asked the court to allow him to attend the high school graduation of his 19-year-old son Prince Sufri Norabbie at the Albert Einstein School in Cotabato City.

He said his son, who is set to lead the invocation as he is the president of his school’s central student government, will receive the Diamond Award for Leadership during the commencement exercises.

Ampatuan said he is willing to post a travel bond and shoulder all expenses for travel and board and lodging of all BJMP members who will be assigned to accompany him to Cotabato City.

In opposing the motion, the prosecutors said Ampatuan should be considered a “flight risk,” adding that granting his request would result in preferential treatment of the former ARMM governor.

Ampatuan is among the accused in the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre, which claimed the lives of 58 people, including 32 media practitioners.