Ampatuan lawyer withdraws, suspect arraigned
CMFR/Philippines – One of the lawyers of one of the primary accused persons in the Ampatuan Massacre has withdrawn as his counsel.
Lawyer Sigfried Fortun filed a manifestation on 29 May 2014 withdrawing as counsel for Zaldy Ampatuan, who was governor of Maguindanao province at the time of the massacre. No reason was given for his withdrawal. But he remains the defense lawyer of Zaldy’s father, Andal Ampatuan Sr., and his brother, Andal Ampatuan Jr.
Meanwhile, the 111th suspect arrested in connection with the massacre was arraigned on 21 May 2014 and pled not guilty to 58 counts of murder.
The Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists Inc. (FFFJ) filed a disbarment complaint against Fortun in 2010. The complaint was based on Fortun’s allegedly unethical behavior in the course of the trial.
FFFJ represents the families of 17 massacre victims. CMFR serves as its secretariat.
On 21 May 2014, suspect Kominie Inggo pled not guilty to 58 counts of murder. Inggo was turned over to the court’s custody on 20 May 2014, two months after being arrested on 22 March 2014 in Cotabato province for illegal possession of fire arms.
According to court records, 111 of the 196 accused of carrying out the massacre have been arrested; 105 of them have been arraigned.
On 23 November 2009, 58 people, 32 of whom were journalists and media workers, were killed in a single incident of election-related violence in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao province.
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