Fiscals want Zaldy to present two witnesses

MANILA, Philippines - The prosecution panel in the Maguindanao massacre trial has asked the Quezon City judge handling the multiple murder case to present two witnesses, instead of one, during the hearing scheduled next week.

In a three-page urgent motion, the panel led by Prosecutor Archimedes Manabat asked Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes to order the Heffron Esguerra Dy & De Jesus (HEDJ) law firm to present two defense witnesses on Sept. 17.

The HEDJ law firm represents former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan, who is set to present the first defense witnesses in the almost four-year trial.

“The panel foresees that cross-examination on the points raised in the prospective testimonies of the said witnesses would be, at the very least, concise and not lengthy and that the testimonies of both witnesses could be terminated on one trial date,” read the motion.

The prosecutors added that the presentation of two witnesses on Sept. 17 will maximize the court’s and the parties’ time and resources, as well as save the parties from expenses of having to travel to Bicutan on Sept. 18.

The HEDJ law firm earlier argued that they could only present a witness per hearing date. They are set to present one of Ampatuan’s children, a minor, as the first witness in the bail hearings.