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Philippines mayor pleads not guilty to massacre murder charges

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Andal Ampatuan Jr., mayor of the southern Philippine town of Datu Unsay, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to 41 counts of murder related to the November massacre in Maguindanao province that left 57 dead. Prosecutors allege that Ampatuan and a large group of his men took a party of his opposition's supporters and journalists to a remote hilltop where the victims were murdered and buried. No live media coverage was allowed at the Quezon City regional trial court. The trial will resume on January 13, when the prosecution is expected to call at least 12 witnesses in an attempt to block Ampatuan's petition for bail. Ampatuan is expected to be charged with 57 counts of murder, with the other murder complaints still pending before the Philippines Department of Justice (PDOJ). Last week, the PDOJ began the trial of more than 600 people charged with rebellion for allegedly interfering with government operations following the killings. Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo imposed martial law and suspended habeas corpus in the province in the wake of the killings. She later lifted the conditions, following international pressure and domestic legal challenges.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on January 05, 2010 (boomark / email).