Court denies massacre principal suspect Andal Sr.’s bail petition

The Regional Trial Court of Quezon City has denied Andal Ampatuan Sr.’s petition for bail after it established the participation of the clan patriarch in the 23 November 2009 massacre of 58 persons, including 32 journalists and media workers. The journalists were covering the filing of the Certificate of...

Court orders release of Ampatuan on bail

CMFR/PHILIPPINES –The court trying the accused in the November 23, 2009 Ampatuan Massacre has ordered the immediate release of a primary suspect after he posted the required P11.6-million bail bond.

Supreme Court affirms denial of live coverage of Ampatuan trial

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – THE SUPREME COURT of the Philippines affirmed its 23 October 2012 decision which disallowed live media broadcast of the hearings being conducted by Branch 221 of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court in connection with the Ampatuan Massacre. In a briefing held by its Public Information Office...

49 more suspects charged in Ampatuan Massacre

FORTY-NINE more individuals including local government officials and police officers were charged before the provincial prosecutor of Maguindanao last January 7, 2015 for the planning, execution and cover-up of the 23 November 2009 murder of 52 men and women including 32 journalists and media workers.

Court grants bail petition of accused in 2009 Massacre

 (UPDATED)

A member of the Ampatuan clan allegedly involved in the Nov. 23 2009 Maguindanao Massacre may be temporarily released after the Quezon City trial court hearing the case approved his petition for bail last January 2015. It was the 42nd bail petition granted by presiding Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes. But...

STORIFY: Million Candles Campaign

Ampatuan prosecution witness killed, another injured

CMFR/Philippines – A witness for the prosecution in the Ampatuan (Maguindanao) Massacre Trial was killed and another injured when they were ambushed in Shariff Aguak town, Maguindanao province on 18 November 2014. Denex Sacal and Butch Saudagal were on a tricycle at around 7 p.m. when unidentified men fired...

FFFJ: Lift the Ban on Media Coverage of the Ampatuan Massacre Trial

Is vital information being concealed from the public? STATEMENT OF THE FREEDOM FUND FOR FILIPINO JOURNALISTS A coalition of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), the Philippine Center Investigative Journalism (PCIJ), the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), the Center for Community Journalism and Development (CCJD),...

Court grants more bail petitions

CMFR/Philippines – Two weeks after granting bail to 16 police officers accused in the Ampatuan (Maguindanao) Massacre Trial, Branch 221 of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court granted on 27 October 2014 the bail petitions of 25 more accused police officers, finding that the evidence of guilt against the...

Commission on Appointments confirms army officials’ promotion despite opposition from kin of massacre victims

CMFR/Philippines – The Committee on National Defense of the Philippine Congress’ Commission on Appointments confirmed on 22 October 2014 the promotion of two army officials who played crucial roles in the Ampatuan (Maguindanao) Massacre. This was despite opposition from the heirs of massacre victims during the committee meeting. Maguindanao...