The Philippine Online Chronicles

The proceedings against Maguindanao Massacre primary suspect Andal Ampatuan, Jr. remain stalled as Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Presiding Judge Jocelyn Solis Reyes denied a request from the prosecution to continue with hearings.

The ongoing hearings, the last of which was held in February, are to hear Ampatuan Jr.’s petition for bail.

The prosecution asked Reyes early last week to resume full-blown hearings against Ampatuan Jr. so that witnesses can be brought forward to testify. According to Reyes however, both parties still have to file their comments on the motion of the prosecution to include 197 other persons as co-accused alongside Ampatuan, Jr.

“In fact at the scheduled hearing on Feb. 24, 2010, said accused was given 10 days within which to file [comments] on the motion and reply to the opposition to recusation,” she said.

“Considering that it was only on March 8, 2010 that the aforesaid pleadings were filed and the court is still awaiting for the filing of the prosecution’s rejoinder, it is only proper that the former be given reasonable time within which to resolve the said incidents prior to the resumption of the presentation of evidence.”

Senior State Prosecutor Leo Dacera III warned that stalling the trials amounted to an abdication of their duty to prosecute the offenders.

Rebellion trial resumes

Meanwhile, the trial against several other members of the Ampatuan Clan for rebellion will continue on Tuesday morning at Camp Crame.

The rebellion trial was previously suspended due to a motion filed by government prosecutors for the judge handling the trial, QC RTC Branch 77 Judge Vivencio Baclig, to inhibit himself due to suspicions that Baclig was being partial towards the Ampatuans during the proceedings.

“[He] exhibited bias against the [Department of Justice] and strong antagonism against the government,” added the motion against him.

The motion has been dismissed due to lack of basis for the allegation that Baclig is partial towards the defense.

The rebellion trial has also been stalled since February.