QC court asked to reinstate rebellion raps vs Ampatuans

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday asked the Quezon City Regional Trial Court to reverse its decision dismissing the rebellion charges against members of the powerful Ampatuan clan implicated in the Maguindanao massacre. In a 40-page motion for reconsideration, the DOJ also asked QC RTC Judge Vicencio Baclig to order the transfer of the 23 accused to the jail facility of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. Among the 23 were clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his sons Zaldy Uy, Sajid Islam Uy, Akmad Tato and Anwar, all of whom are detained separately in military camps in Mindanao. In its petition, the DOJ through Senior State Prosecutor Leo Dacera accused Baclig of “grave abuse of discretion" when he disregarded the evidence presented by the prosecution. “Even as the presiding judge of this Court gave undue weight to the evidence of the accused, in contrast and in grave abuse of discretion, he [Baclig] totally disregarded evidence adduced by the prosecution," the petition read. The DOJ also asked Baclig to reverse his March 24 order denying its motion seeking his inhibition from the case due to his alleged bias against the prosecution. It said Baclig’s bias was manifested when he allowed the defense to participate in the determination of probable cause and to cross-examine prosecution witnesses. Rebellion charges were slapped against the Ampatuans for allegedly plotting an armed uprising to prevent authorities from arresting them in connection with the massacre of 57 people, including journalists and members of a rival political clan, last November 23. Malacañang placed Maguindanao under martial rule for eight days last December to contain the supposed rebellion. The declaration led to the arrest of the massacre suspects and the confiscation of hundreds of high-powered firearms allegedly owned by the Ampatuans and their supporters. The Ampatuan family reportedly maintains a large group of armed supporters composed mainly of members of Civilian Volunteers’ Organizations (CVO). “In the light of the foregoing, there is little doubt that prosecution was able to dispense with its duty to prove, at the very least, the existence of probable cause in order to detain and prosecute the accused for rebellion," the petition read. - KBK, GMANews.TV