Three scions of the powerful Ampatuan clan asked the Supreme Court on Monday to transfer the venue of the Maguindanao massacre trial from Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City to the Quezon City Hall of Justice.
In their petition, Akmad "Tato" M. Ampatuan and brothers Sajid Uy Ampatuan and Anwar Uy Ampatuan said holding of the multiple murder trial venue inside Camp Bagong Diwa is "a mockery of justice" because it is not a real court room.
The three are relatives of clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr. and son, former Datu Unsay, Maguindanao mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. — key suspects in the Nov. 23, 2009 carnage in Ampatuan town that left 57 people dead.
The petitioners are also on the charge sheet in the multiple murder case being heard by Quezon City Regional Trail Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes.
The Ampatuans allegedly ordered the bloodbath to prevent rival Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu from filing his certificate of candidacy for Maguindanao governor. Mangudadatu eventually won in the recent May 10, 2010 elections.
The three Ampatuans said the holding of the trial in Metro Manila is draining their financial resources because "the accused must shoulder the transportation, lodging, and meals of their witnesses."
Sinister atmosphere
They also said the makeshift court room in Camp Bagong Diwa has a sinister atmosphere. They also assailed Justice Secretary Leila de Lima's presence in one of the trial proceedings earlier this month.
"Her presence can be perceived as intended to have undue influence on the court. At least, this is the perception of the accused," the Ampatuans said.
They also sought for a public trial so that their supporters, relatives, and friends can give them moral support.
"Clearly, the government's effort to hold the proceedings of the instant case at Camp Bagong Diwa is prejudicial to the petitioners as they are denied not only of their constitutional but basic human right to speedy, fair, and public trial," the petitioners said.
Previous SC decision
Last April 13, the Supreme Court ordered that the trial venue for the multiple murder hearing be transferred from the Philippine National Police headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City to the Metro Manila police headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa.
As a result of the SC ruling, all suspects in the massacre, including six members of the Ampatuan clan and more than 50 implicated policemen, were all brought to one detention facility inside the police camp.
Former Taguig City Mayor Freddie Tinga then contested the SC ruling, fearing that the transfer of trial to Bicutan would pose security threats to surrounding schools and communities. But the high tribunal later ruled Tinga's motion was based on mere speculations.
On Monday, the Ampatuans made the plea even if the Supreme Court had already junked Tinga's motion.
Separate trial, new judge
In the same petition, the three Ampatuans also asked the Supreme Court to order a separate trial proceeding and to assign a new judge to handle the case.
They said their only crime "is that they bear the same surname and pose as obstacles" to the ambitions of a rival political clan in Maguindanao. However, the petitioners did not indicate whether they were referring to the Mangudadatus.
The three said they deserve a separate, speedy trial because in the main multiple murder case, only three of the 227 witnesses are set to testify against the the petitioners.
"Should trial be joint, the petitioners must await for the termination of testimonies of all the witnesses for the prosecution and the defense, even should the three witnesses against them be made to testify first," said the three Ampatuans.
No comments:
Post a Comment