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 Court grants bail for 16 accused police officers CMFR/Philippines â Branch 221 of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court granted the bail petitions of 16 police officers accused in the Ampatuan (Maguindanao) Massacre trial on 13 October 2014 on the basis of a finding that the evidence of guilt against the 16 is weak. The court set... Ampatuan finds new lawyer CMFR/Philippines â One of the primary accused in the Ampatuan (Maguindanao) Massacre, Andal âDatu Unsayâ Ampatuan, has a new defense counsel. In the 24 September 2014 hearing, lawyer Salvador Panelo entered an appearance as Datu Unsayâs new defense counsel. Datu Unsay and more than a hundred others, including his... Journalists barred from covering Ampatuan Massacre trial CMFR/Philippines â Policemen barred journalists from covering the Ampatuan (Maguindanao) Massacre trialproceedings on 17 September 2014. No immediate reason was given. Neither were the journalists told whether the directive was from the police, the jail management bureau, or the court. Read more here. Ampatuan daughter is first defense witness CMFR/Philippines â Former governor Zaldy Ampatuan, accused in the Ampatuan (Maguindanao) Massacre trial, presented on 17 September 2014 his 17-year old daughter as his first witness in support of his bail petition. Zaldyâs daughter testified that her father was in Davao City on 21 and 22 November 2009, two... Missing the point: the media focus on bribery allegations in the Ampatuan Massacre trial The media dropped the ball in reporting the controversial motion of the state prosecutors to rest in the presentation of âevidence-in-chiefâ (evidence to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt) in the Ampatuan (Maguindanao) Massacre Trial, which is still hearing the bail petitions of some of the accused. The media instead focused... Ampatuans ask for more time to find new lawyers CMFR/Philippines â The primary accused in the Ampatuan (Maguindanao) Massacre Trial asked the Court on 14 August 2014 to extend the seven days they have been given to find new lawyers, saying they also need time to raise money for new legal representation. Speaking for his father, Andal Ampatuan... Victimsâ families support opposition to resting in âevidence-in-chiefâ, call for investigation on bribery claims CMFR/Philippines â The families of some victims of the Ampatuan (Maguindanao) Massacre held a press conference on 6 August 2013 to express their support for the opposition to rest in âevidence-in-chiefâ and to call for an investigation on bribery allegations. The following day, private prosecutor Harry Roque  and Justice... FFFJ counsel: Clarifications on issues raised by Atty. Harry Roque Below are clarifications made by Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists legal counsel Prima Jesusa Quinsayas on issues raised by Attorney Harry Roque, her fellow private prosecutor in the Ampatuan Massacre Trial: I was informed about Atty. Harry Roque’s reaction to the matter regarding the plan of the Department of Justice... Private prosecutor: resting in âevidence-in-chiefâ does not reflect âfirst in, first outâ principle CMFR/Philippines â On Thursday, 31 July 2014, the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists Inc. (FFFJ) held a press briefing for two private prosecutors representing victimsâ families in the trial of suspects in the Ampatuan (Maguindanao) massacre. They expressed their disagreement with the manifestation filed by the panel of state... Private prosecutors oppose resting case State prosecutors handling the Ampatuan Massacre Trial are pushing through with their decision to rest in presenting evidence-in-chief, despite opposition from three private prosecutors who say the move is premature and could lead to a mistrial. In 28 February 2014, state prosecutors manifested in court their intention to rest... « Previous12345…11Next »
