Zaldy offers evidence supporting bail plea

MANILA, Philippines - Former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Zaldy Ampatuan has submitted his formal offer of evidence to support his bail petition in the Maguindanao massacre case.

The Heffron Esguerra Dy & De Jesus (HEDJ) law firm, in a 52-page document released to the media Friday, said their client must be allowed to post bail as the evidence presented by the prosecution panel is not strong.

The formal offer of evidence included 21 exhibits and the testimonies of 15 witnesses, which allegedly prove that Ampatuan neither attended the meetings nor took part in the actual commission of the crime in Nov. 23, 2009.

The prosecution evidence against Ampatuan revolved on his alleged participation in the planning of the massacre, as he was in a meeting with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on the day of the incident.

But in their formal offer, HEDJ cited the testimony of the executive assistant of the ARMM liaison office, who said Ampatuan was in Makati City when the supposed July 20, 2009 meeting at a hotel in Manila was held.

Suspect-turned-state witness Sukarno Badal claimed that Ampatuan participated in the meeting.

Ampatuan’s lawyers said it would be impossible for their client to be present in succeeding meetings on Nov. 16, 17, 20, 21 and 22, 2009 as there were witnesses who testified seeing him in another place.

With the submission of the formal offer, HEDJ has formally rested its case in the bail petition lodged at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221.

The prosecution panel will have to comment on the formal offer before Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes rules on the petition.

Ampatuan is among the 197 suspects initially charged for the massacre. Fifty-eight people, including 32 media practitioners, died in the bloodbath.