5 more Ampatuan kin, 633 others to face rebellion raps

Five more members of the Ampatuan clan and 633 others were summoned on Tuesday by the Department of Justice to the preliminary hearing on rebellion charges that stemmed from the clan’s alleged involvement in the November 23 massacre in Maguindanao. Summoned by the prosecuting panel for the hearing were Mamasapano town mayor Banarin Ampatuan, Rajah Buayan town mayor Yacob Ampatuan, Datu Ulo Ampatuan, Datu Ipi Ampatuan and Datu Kanor Ampatuan, to answer allegations that they were among the leaders of the rebellion that was supposed to take place last November 28. Rebellion charges were earlier filed by the DOJ against Ampatuan Sr., sons ARMM governor Zaldy Ampatuan, Sajid Islam Ampatuan and Shariff Aguak mayor Anwar Ampatuan; vice governor Akmad Tato Ampatuan; and 19 others before the Cotabato regional trial court. [See: Rebellion raps filed vs 600 in massacre case] According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), the 638 respondents took part in the planning and execution of an armed uprising in response to the arrest of Datu Unsay town mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., primary suspect in the November 23 carnage. Aside from the five Ampatuans, the DOJ also subpoenaed five other local officials who allegedly joined the uprising: Sultan sa Barongis town vice mayor Sukarno Badal, Barira town mayor Alexander Tumawis, Datu Undin town mayor Ombra Sinsuat, Parang town mayor Abu Talib and provincial administrator Nurie Unas. Two hearings The DOJ panel has set on December 28 the hearings for the rebellion charges and the multiple murder charges, in the morning and in the afternoon respectively. State Prosecutor Lamberto Fabros, member of the prosecuting panel tasked to conduct the preliminary investigation, said the hearing on the rebellion cases would start at 9 a.m., while the second preliminary hearing on the multiple murder complaints would be conducted in the afternoon. Both the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have so far listed a total of about 700 in the rebellion case, and 190 respondents in the multiple murder case. In the afternoon hearing, most of the accused are expected to submit counter-affidavits denying their involvement in the November 23 massacre. Other respondents identified by the PNP are still at large, although subpoenas have already been served at their known addresses. The Ampatuans through their lawyer Philip Sigfrid Fortun had earlier waived their right to file a counter-affidavit citing Devanadera’s biased comments against his clients. In the rebellion case, the 638 respondents meanwhile have already been subpoenaed to attend the preliminary hearing and submit their answer to the rebellion complaint filed by the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). No venue yet Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera however said her office is yet to secure a proper venue for the preliminary investigations on the rebellion and massacre charges against the Ampatuans, noting the huge number of respondents in the two cases. Devanadera said the PNP is looking for a bigger venue because the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, the DOJ compound and the NBI jail are not large enough to accommodate the Ampatuans, their followers and other respondents. Devanadera also said a bigger place is needed for efficiently handling the hundreds of respondents in one hearing venue and detention area before and after the proceedings. Among the sites being considered are the PNP facilities in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig, Metro Manila, and the PNP Special Action Force camp in Sta. Rosa, Laguna province, as both hearing and detention venues. “All these are in the making, and final arrangements will have to be done maybe first week of January because we also have to manifest to the court (about the transfer) since some of the cases are already filed in court," Devanadera said. The decision to transfer the venue of the hearing was reached after Andal Jr. sustained a minor cut on his forehead after being hit by a photographer’s camera while leaving the DOJ premises after the December 18 hearing. [See: Andal Jr hurt when NBI brought him to DOJ] Devanadera said such incident calls for “better security arrangement for the accused and other respondents in the case since they also have rights protected by the Constitution." She also said that a month after the massacre, the public outcry for justice to victims of the killings remained intense, admitting that even court proceedings are not enough to pacify the people. Devanadera told reporters that “the international community has been watching," and what is important is for the nation to show how we deal with the problem, because “all Filipinos would really want to see justice done." Deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar meanwhile denied that there was a deliberate attempt to delay the proceedings against Andal Jr., as he assured the public that the DOJ is doing the investigation with “impartiality as well as expediency." “There doesn’t seem to be any evidence of unwarranted delay in the conduct of this investigation," he added, saying that the important thing is that proper conduct of investigation is being observed. – Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV