Ampatuan runs out of witnesses for bail petition

MANILA, Philippines - Former Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan failed to present a new witness for his bail petition on the Maguindanao massacre case.

The Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 gave Ampatuan's camp until the end of November to present its witnesses.

The defense camp was scheduled to present three witnesses but failed to do so on Wednesday. Ampatuan's lawyer requested for the court to cancel the scheduled presentation of evidence on Thursday due to lack of witnesses.

The Ampatuan camp was able to present 15 witnesses for the bail petition, according to a report from radio dzMM.

Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes gave the defense counsel 15 days to submit a formal offer of evidence before they decide to grant Ampatuan bail.

The next hearing for Ampatuan's bail petition is scheduled on December 3.

The counsel of the families of the Maguindanao massacre victims is expecting the decision of the case in the next 45 case.

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima vowed to regularly update the families of the Maguindanao massacre victims on the ongoing hearings and promised that she would personally oversee information dissemination.

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