IBP Notes on the Maguindanao murder trial: February 10

10 February 2010

The hearing, which was held at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, was called to order at 9:00 o’clock in the morning. Present  were State Prosecutors Fadullon, Navera and Dacera, and private prosecutors Oquendo, Principe, Quinsayas, Roque and Santos.  Atty. Sigfrid Fortun led the counsels for the defense.

At the start of the hearing of the petition for bail filed by accused Andal Ampatuan, Jr., the lead defendant in the criminal cases for murder (in connection with the infamous Maguindanao massacre) pending before the sala of Quezon City Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes, defense counsel Sigfrid Fortun moved to defer the scheduled hearing  owing to  recent developments in the case, specifically the indictment of  196  additional respondents who are expected to file their respective petitions for bail.  The prosecution likewise manifested that there are pending motions that needed to be resolved, such as the accused’s Motion for a Show Cause Order, Motion for Recusation, and the prosecution’s Motion to Cite in Contempt Atty. Pantojan, et al., and the Motion to Amend Information with Leave of Court.

Judge Reyes ruled on the pending motions to show cause and motion for requisition filed by the defense, giving the prosecution 10 days from receipt of the same within which to file its Comment on said motions, with the defense given the same period of 10 days upon receipt of prosecution’s Comment to file its Reply, upon receipt of which the prosecution is allowed to file its Rejoinder if it so desires, within a similar period.

Anent the prosecution’s Motion to Amend the Information with Leave of Court, the defense was given 10 days within which to file its Comment while the prosecution was likewise given the same period upon receipt of the Comment to file its Reply.

Judge Reyes granted the defense’ oral motion for the deferment of  the hearing. She likewise ordered the cancellation of the hearing scheduled for February 17, 2010 and set the resumption of the hearing of the petition for bail on February 24, 2010 as scheduled. The hearing was adjourned at 10:30 am.

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