The Philippine Online Chronicles

While the Maguindanao Massacre trial continues at Camp Crame, the Ampatuan clan is gearing up for elections season in Maguindanao, with a total of 68 members of the powerful political family running for office in this year’s polls. In comparison, the Mangudadatu family is fielding 15 members to run for office.

Of the 12 Ampatuan clan members who were implicated in the November 23 elections-related slaying of 57 people, only two are not running for office - Datu Unsay mayor Datu Andal Ampatuan, Jr., who is suspected of leading the killings and is facing charges, and his brother Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan. However, their wives and a daughter will be running for government.

Andal Jr.’s wife Reshal Santiago will be running for mayor of Datu Unsay while Zaldy’s wife Bai Johaira is running unopposed for mayor of Datu Hoffer town. Zaldy’s eldest daughter, Bai Norailla Kristina, is also running unopposed for councilor.

Andal Ampatuan Sr., patriarch of the clan and suspected of involvement in the massacre, is running for vice governor of Maguindanao against three opponents, including his daughter, Shaydee Ampatuan-Abutazil. He is currently being detained at a military hospital in Davao City for rebellion against the Philippine government.

His sons Anwar and Sajid and relative Akmad “Tato" Ampatuan, Sr. are also running for office. Together with Zaldy, they are all being kept at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group headquarters in General Santos City, for possible involvement in the massacre.

The other six Ampatuan members who were implicated in the murders but have not been arrested are grandsons Saudi Jr., Bahnarin and Datu Anwar “Ipi" Ampatuan, Jr. and other relations Kanor Datumanong Ampatuan, Datu Mama Ampatuan and Datu Norodin Ampatuan. All are running for top posts in Maguindanao.

A list of all the Ampatuans running in this year’s elections can be viewed here.

Today’s installment of the ongoing Massacre trial was suspended so that the lawyers of the 196 people accused of collaborating in the slaying could catch up with the proceedings.

Andal Jr.’s lawyer Philip Sigfrid Fortun also accused Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes, who is currently handling the case, of “ineptness and misconduct.” He filed on Tuesday a 23-page motion for recusation against the judge for “[committing] serious misconduct in disregarding simple evidentiary rules.”

According to Fortun, “There is serious or gross misconduct when judicial acts complained of were corrupt or inspired by an intention to violate the law or were in persistent disregard of well-known legal rules.”

Reyes did not immediately act on the motion, but gave the prosecution 10 days to comment on it.

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