Judge admits evidence vs Andal Jr.’s bail plea

MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City judge handling the Maguindanao massacre trial has ruled to admit most of the evidence submitted by the prosecution panel against the bail petition of primary suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr.

In a 22-page order released yesterday, Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes ruled to admit all but eight of the more than 180 exhibits offered by the prosecution in opposition to Ampatuan’s bail petition on 57 counts of murder.

Solis-Reyes will hold in abeyance her decision on Ampatuan’s bail plea until she can rule on the prosecutor’s evidence on the 58th murder charge. Ampatuan filed a bail petition on the 58th count weeks after the prosecutors submitted their formal offer of evidence.

Among those admitted were sworn statements of various witnesses, billing records from telecommunications companies, autopsy pictures of the victims, and medico-legal reports.

The judge also ruled to admit the testimonies of eyewitnesses Norodin Mauyag and Akmad Abubakar Esmael, as well as that of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu and former Ampatuan town vice mayor Rasul Sangki.