Judge sets 2 massacre suspects’ arraignment

MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City court handling the 2009 Maguindanao massacre trial has ordered the arraignment of two suspects tagged in the multiple murder case next week.

Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes ordered the arraignment of suspects Talembo Masukat and Kudza Uguia-Masukat on Wednesday morning at the Quezon City Jail Annex (QCJA) in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.

The arraignment of Masukat, who was arrested on Feb. 16 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, was deferred last month following the motion filed by his lawyer, Andres Manuel. The defense earlier claimed that the suspect identified as Masukat was wrongly accused and that his real name was Talembo Kahar Abdulrakman.

Meanwhile, Uguia-Masukat will be arraigned following his arrest on April 15 in Midsayap, North Cotabato. He is currently detained at the QCJA, where most of the accused are jailed pending the resolution of the case filed against them.

The court is not aware of any relationship between the two suspects. They will be the 93rd and 94th suspects arraigned in connection with the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre, which claimed the lives of 58 people, including 32 media practitioners.