AMPATUAN TRIAL UPDATE: Judge faces fifth recusation motion

THE JUDGE who was supposed to try the accused in the Ampatuan multiple murder case has once again been asked by the defense lawyers to recuse herself—for the sixth time. The motion for Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes to inhibit herself from trying the...

5th Commemoration of the Maguindanao Massacre

Protest against the Agra Decision

Elusive justice

by Maria Khamine Kianah Amil, Kristina Noelle Andaya and Jenny de Venecia Japeth Umpad is five months old, and he will never see his father again. His father, UNTV cameraman McDelbert Arriola, was among the 37 journalists/media practitioners abducted and brutally murdered in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao on Nov. 23,...

The fight continues

by Monica Joy Cantilero, Jenny de Venecia and Christine Joy Sarmiento The families of the victims of  the Nov. 23 Ampatuan massacre marked the fifth month since the killings took place by pledging to continue their fight for justice despite threats and the dismissal of multiple murder charges  against...

AMPATUAN TRIAL UPDATE: Technicalities delay proceedings

IN EARLY February, the bail hearings in the trial for multiple murder of Andal “Unsay” Ampatuan Jr. and other alleged perpetrators of the Nov. 23, 2009 killing of at least 57 persons including 32 journalists and media workers were delayed. These delays once again highlighted the vulnerability of Philippine...

Families of slain Maguindanao journalists rally in front of DOJ

The families of the slain 32 journalists in the Maguindanao Massacre rallied in front of the Department of Justice Tuesday (April 21) to voice their anger and sorrow over Secretary Alberto Agra for his controversial resolution. The relatives of the victims flew all the way to Manila from Mindanao...

Ampatuan Trial Update: Judge to decide on inhibition

Pending the resolution of the Recusation (motion to inhibit) filed by the defense, a Philippine local court indefinitely suspended last 24 February 2010 the hearing on the petition for bail of the key suspect in the Maguindanao massacre case. The lawyers of prime suspect Andal “Unsay” Ampatuan Jr. want...

AMPATUAN TRIAL UPDATE: Resolutions Pending

The investigation of the Nov. 23 murder of at least 57 persons has led to the filing of charges against Datu Andal “Unsay” Ampatuan Jr. and other members of the Ampatuan clan including their patriarch Andal Sr. The Ampatuans, the leading political clan in Maguindanao province and in the...

IBP Notes on the 24 February 2010 Ampatuan bail hearing

The hearing was called to order at 8:30 in the morning. Present in the hearing were State Prosecutors Richard Fadullon and Leo Dacera and private prosecutors Nena Santos, Prima Jesusa Quinsayas, Ma. Gemma Oquendo, and Pete Principe, while Sigfrid Fortun led the counsels for the defense of accused Andal...