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E-mailMaguindanao Massacre primary suspect former Datu Unsay vice mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. has pleaded "not guilty" to the 57th murder charge filed against him. Ampatuan, together with other members of his family, is accused of having masterminded the November 2009 election-related slaying of 57 people near Ampatuan, Maguindanao.
Ampatuan has already been arraigned for the other 56 counts of murder. The 57th was a charge for the killing of UNTV’s Victor Nuñez, one of the 18 media workers killed in the massacre.
Sixteen others pleaded not guilty, including Chief Inspector Sukarno Dicay, Senior Inspector Abdulgapor Abad, Police Officer 1 Michael Macarongon, PO3 Rasid Anton, Takpan Dilon, Esmael Canapia, PO2 Hernanie Decipulo Jr., PO2 Saudiar Ulah, PO2 Saudi Pasutan, PO1 Herich Amaba, PO1 Esprielito Lejarso, PO1 Rainer Ebus, Inspector Rex Ariel Diongon, Inspector Michael Joy Macaraeg, PO1 Pia Kamidon, and Muhamad Sangki.
Despite pleading not guilty, Chief Inspector Dicay has applied to become a state witness for the ongoing investigation of the killings.
“We [the police] did not kill [the victims]. We were merely at the checkpoint when the killings happened,” Dicay said. “If the [Department of Justice] would only allow us, our testimony might be the key to uncovering the identity of the [brains] of the massacre.”
“If we couldn’t help them [the victims] then, we’ll help them now by speaking out the truth... about what we know,” he added.
“Dicay was there from start to end. He was the one manning the checkpoints where the victims were flagged down. Dicay is all,” said private prosecutor Nena Santos.
Meanwhile, Ampatuan’s lawyer Sigfried Fortun has for the sixth time filed a motion for presiding magistrate Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes to inhibit herself from the case.
Prosecutors have slammed the move, saying it is a “dilatory tactic.”
“That’s an abuse of judicial remedy. We will study our options so we could put a stop to that,” said prosecutor Prima Quimsaya.
“On the government’s part, we will keep on opposing this,” added state prosecutor Juan Paolo Navera.
Lawyer Marlon Pagaduan, who is representing several policemen implicated in the massacre, added that he does “not see the need for Reyes to inhibit herself.”
“She has been a fair judge as far as I’m concerned and changing her would further delay the hearings,” he said.
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