Massacre suspect pleads not guilty

MANILA, Philippines - A suspect in the Maguindanao massacre yesterday pleaded not guilty to the 58 counts of multiple murder filed against him before a Quezon City court. 

Sanggutin Musa, one of the 197 suspects initially charged for the massacre, entered a not guilty plea during his arraignment before Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes. 

The judge set his preliminary investigation on Jan. 18, 2016 and pre-trial on Jan. 29. 

Musa was arraigned a day after the court was informed of his arrest earlier this month in Sultan Kudarat. 

Based on records submitted to the court, Musa was arrested by elements of the Maguindanao Provincial Public Safety Company at Barangay Malasing in Sultan Kudarat on Dec. 6.

A .45 caliber pistol with five bullets was confiscated from the suspect. 

Upon submission of the return of the arrest warrant, Solis-Reyes issued a commitment order for the suspect to be detained in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. 

He is the 114th suspect nabbed for the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre. 

A total of 58 people, including 32 media practitioners, died in the bloodbath.