Manila Bulletin
Philippines
Ampatuan should be compelled to be at promulgation of Maguindanao massacre decision
Philippines
Ampatuan should be compelled to be at promulgation of Maguindanao massacre decision
Ampatuan should be compelled to be at promulgation of Maguindanao massacre decision
Published Dec 16, 2019 12:00 am
By Joseph Jubelag
GENERAL SANTOS CITY- Maguindanao Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu has asked the regional trial court handling the Maguindanao massacre case to compel the principal accused in the case to attend the scheduled promulgation on Thursday, December 19.
Maguindanao governor Esmael Mangudadatu (Photo by LJ Pasion|MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
In a radio interview here on Monday, Mangudadatu said their camp will petition the court to compel Zaldy Ampatuan, one of the principal accused in the case who is presently confined at a hospital after he suffered a stroke last October 22 to attend the promulgation of the case on December 19.
RTC Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes had earlier allowed the hospital confinement of Zaldy Ampatuan, former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao after he suffered a stroke while under detention at the Quezon City jail annex inside the Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
Mangudadatu’s wife, Genalyn and sisters, Bai Eden and Farida were among those 58 people including 32 journalists, who were mercilessly killed by gunmen led by Ampatuan clan members in an outskirt village in Ampatuan, Maguindanao on November 23, 2009.
The victims were on a convoy on their way to file the candidacy for governor of Esmael Mangudadatu at the Commission on Election provincial office in Shariff Aguak town, when stopped by the suspects and herded to an isolated village of Barangay Salman, Ampatuan where they were massacred and buried in a shallow grave.
Mangudadatu has expressed optimism the court will convict the principal accused in the case including Zaldy Ampatuan, Andal Ampatuan Jr. and Sajid Ampatuan, who is out on bail, citing the probable evidence and witnesses presented by the prosecution panel.
“The prosecutors had established during the trial the conspiracy of the principal accused starting from the planning and the execution of the crime,” Mangudadatu said.
The former Maguindanao governor-turned congressman is wary that more than 80 accused in the case remain at large and scot-free to roam around the province.
Of the more than 190 suspects in the case, eighty of them had been arrested and subjected to trial.
Mangudadatu said some of the unaccounted suspects in the massacre case are reportedly engaged in illegal drugs and extortion activities in Maguindanao.
Maguindanao governor Esmael Mangudadatu (Photo by LJ Pasion|MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
In a radio interview here on Monday, Mangudadatu said their camp will petition the court to compel Zaldy Ampatuan, one of the principal accused in the case who is presently confined at a hospital after he suffered a stroke last October 22 to attend the promulgation of the case on December 19.
RTC Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes had earlier allowed the hospital confinement of Zaldy Ampatuan, former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao after he suffered a stroke while under detention at the Quezon City jail annex inside the Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
Mangudadatu’s wife, Genalyn and sisters, Bai Eden and Farida were among those 58 people including 32 journalists, who were mercilessly killed by gunmen led by Ampatuan clan members in an outskirt village in Ampatuan, Maguindanao on November 23, 2009.
The victims were on a convoy on their way to file the candidacy for governor of Esmael Mangudadatu at the Commission on Election provincial office in Shariff Aguak town, when stopped by the suspects and herded to an isolated village of Barangay Salman, Ampatuan where they were massacred and buried in a shallow grave.
Mangudadatu has expressed optimism the court will convict the principal accused in the case including Zaldy Ampatuan, Andal Ampatuan Jr. and Sajid Ampatuan, who is out on bail, citing the probable evidence and witnesses presented by the prosecution panel.
“The prosecutors had established during the trial the conspiracy of the principal accused starting from the planning and the execution of the crime,” Mangudadatu said.
The former Maguindanao governor-turned congressman is wary that more than 80 accused in the case remain at large and scot-free to roam around the province.
Of the more than 190 suspects in the case, eighty of them had been arrested and subjected to trial.
Mangudadatu said some of the unaccounted suspects in the massacre case are reportedly engaged in illegal drugs and extortion activities in Maguindanao.