No reopening of Maguindanao massacre trial

MANILA,Philippines — The Quezon City court handling the multiple murder cases filed in connection with the 2009 Maguindanao massacre will not reopen the decade-long trial as requested by the lawyer of primary suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr.

Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes, in a five-page order released on Monday, denied the motion to reopen the trial filed by lawyer Paul Laguatan in behalf of his client Ampatuan.

She noted the testimony of suspect-turned-state witness Sukarno Badal, who denied the claim of Ampatuan that he would recant his testimony.

“With the denial made by prosecution witness Sukarno Badal of his intention to recant his previous testimony given on several dates, it is crystal clear that the ground relied on by the accused-movant’s for the reopening of trial has no leg to stand on,” read the ruling.

“Thus, the motion must perforce fail,” it added.

With the denial of the motion, the 90-day period that Solis-Reyes has to rule on the case will proceed.

She submitted the case for decision last Aug. 22, giving her until Nov. 20 – or three days before the 10th anniversary of the massacre – to hand down the verdict on Ampatuan and some 100 suspects who have been arrested in connection with the incident.

The camp of Ampatuan tried to defer the proceedings, first with a request that he be given three months to find a new lawyer after the withdrawal of the firm of Raymond Fortun from the case in August.

When it was denied by the judge, his new lawyer Laguatan asked for an extension to file the defense memorandum and, later on, the motion to reopen the trial.