We will not surrender our freedomsToday, Independence Day, we renew our pledge to serve the people, to continue speaking truth to power, and to guard and defend freedom of the press and of expression from all threats.Read More Covering the PandemicRead more Covering the CoViD-19 Pandemic Accused fails to show up for arraignment, cites “short notice” CMFR/Philippines – One of three individuals accused of involvement in the Ampatuan Massacre scheduled for arraignment on 7 and 8 May failed to appear in court. Mohamad Sangki, who is under the Witness Protection Program (WPP), failed to appear in Court because they did not have enough time to assure... Accused seeks hospitalization, another suspect arrested CMFR/Philippines – One of the accused in the Ampatuan Massacre has asked the Court’s permission to be hospitalized. Meanwhile, another individual suspected of involvement in the massacre was arrested on 26 April 2014 and will be arraigned on 7 May 2014. Former Police Inspector Michael Joy Macaraeg sought through... Suspect turned state witness testifies; another arraigned CMFR/Philippines – One of the 196 accused in the Ampatuan Massacre was arraigned on 27 March 2014, more than four years after the trial of the other accused perpetrators began in January 2010. Eighty-six more suspects remain at large. Suspect Dexon Saptula pled not guilty on Thursday to 58... Suspect’s bid for exclusion from trial denied; another suspect arrested CMFR/Philippines – The Court of Appeals denied on 14 March 2013 the motion for reconsideration of Sajid Islam U. Ampatuan, primary suspect in the 2009 Ampatuan Massacre and son of former governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., to be excluded from prosecution. On 23 November 2009, 58 people including 32 journalists... Updated: Government prosecutors rest case against 28 accused; Court accepts embalmer’s testimony CMFR/Philippines – Government prosecutors expressed their intention to rest their case against 28 accused of masterminding and carrying out the Ampatuan Massacre of 2009 on 28 February 2014, more than four years since the trial started in January 2010. In an 11-page manifestation, government prosecutors said they had no more... Victims’ kin appear in court; suspect arraigned CMFR/Philippines – The kin of three Ampatuan Massacre victims—Alejandro Reblando, Jr., Femy Momay, and Cielo Birzuela—took the witness stand during the ongoing trial of the accused masterminds and killers last 27 February 2014. Another suspect was arraigned during the same hearing. Alejandro Reblando Jr., took the witness stand in... Court orders release of man mistaken for Ampatuan Massacre suspect CMFR/Philippines – The court hearing the Ampatuan Massacre trial ordered on 23 January 2014 the release of a man who was mistakenly identified as one of the accused. Presiding Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QC RTC) Branch 221 ordered the release of Jun Aliman who... Backhoe operator identifies Ampatuan Massacre suspect CMFR/Philippines – One of the three backhoe operators in the Ampatuan Massacre took the stand for the prosecution during a petition for bail hearing on 22 January 2013.  He re-affirmed his testimony of 12 July 2012, and confirmed that the bail petitioner, Datu Anwar Sajid “Datu Ulo” Ampatuan, is... Supreme Court releases guidelines to speed up Ampatuan trial CMFR/Philippines – The Philippine Supreme Court (SC) released new guidelines on 10 December 2013 to expedite the proceedings of the Ampatuan Massacre trial. The trial started more than three years ago, on 05 January 2010, with 197 originally named as accused. Fifty-eight people, including 32 journalists and media workers,... Two more Ampatuans arraigned TWO MORE of the principal accused pleaded “not guilty” last 2 October 2013 to 58 counts of murder in connection with the 23 November 2009 Ampatuan, Maguindanao massacre. « Previous123456…10Next »
