Court assigns public lawyer for Ampatuans

MANILA, Philippines - A Quezon City court yesterday assigned a public lawyer to represent Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his son Andal Jr. and other accused in the Maguindanao massacre trial after their counsels had withdrawn from the case.

Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 assigned Laquindab Marohombsar as defense lawyer for the Ampatuans.

Other accused to be represented by Marohombsar are Sajid Anwar Ampatuan, Akmad Tato Ampatuan, Talembo Masukat, Mohades Ampatuan, Misuari Ampatuan, Macton Bilungan, Norman Tatak, Armando Ambalgan, Abedin Alamada, Nicomedes Tolentino, Ibrahim Kamal Tatak, Thong Guimano, Salipada Tampodao, Datutuhon Esmael, Naser Talib and Butukan Malang.

“The accused are hereby given seven days, within which to secure the services of a new counsel who will represent them in these cases,” Solis-Reyes said.

Philip Sigfrid Fortun, Andres Manuel Jr. and Paris Real had withdrawn as lawyers for the accused amid accusations of bribery involving some prosecutors in the case.

Fortun’s law firm, Fortun Narvasa & Salazar, is the one representing Andal Sr. and Andal Jr.

The bribery allegations have caused rift among government prosecutors and private lawyers handling the case.

Lawyer denies P7-M bribe

Private lawyer Harry Roque surfaced Tuesday at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which is conducting probe on allegations that government prosecutors and private lawyers handling the Maguindanao massacre case received bribe money.    

Roque, who represents some of the families of the massacre victims, denied accusations that he received P7 million from the Ampatuans.

Private prosecutor Nena Santos earlier accused Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan and other private lawyers in the case of receiving bribe money.  

Santos represents Maguindanao Gov. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, whose wife and sisters were among the 58 people killed in the massacre on Nov. 29, 2009.

Baraan and the government prosecutors accused of bribery denied the allegations.– Reinir Padua, Aie Balagtas See