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 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. Ampatuan Massacre trial overview (Updated) INFORGRAPHIC: Ampatuan Massacre trial overview Click on the image to enlarge Five more suspects arraigned in massacre trial; backhoe operator included CMFR/Philippines – Five suspects in the Ampatuan Massacre trial, including the confessed backhoe operator, were arraigned on 8 and 14 August 2013. But the arraignment of three more suspects also scheduled on August 8 was delayed. Meanwhile, the court trying the suspects in the Massacre deferred the transfer of... FFFJ: One More Delay in a Long List of Delays Below is a statement from the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists (FFFJ) on the delays of the Ampatuan Massacre trial. ———– The  deferment of the arraignment of two of the principal accused in the November 23, 2009 Ampatuan town massacre adds to the already long list of delays in... Courts junk suspects’ pleas; journalists’ group calls for speedy trial CMFR/Philippines – Philippine courts dismissed the petitions of several suspects in the Ampatuan massacre last 7 June 2013. One petition sought to exclude as evidence the testimony of a policeman turned prosecution witness. Two others challenged the indictment of two Ampatuan clan members. « Previous1…34567…11Next »
