Nine police officers and two members of the Civilian Volunteers Organization on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to 57 counts of murder stemming from last year's massacre in Maguindanao province. At the resumption of the murder trial at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, 15 suspects showed up but only 11 were arraigned and able to enter their plea. Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes deferred the arraignment of the remaining suspects pending resolution of a motion to quash filed last Tuesday. Among those who pleaded not guilty were CVOs Takpan Dilon and Esmael Canapia as well as nine local police officers from Maguindanao. The nine policemen who pleaded not guilty were: Police Insp. Rex Ariel Diongon, PO2 Saudiar Ulah, PO2 Saudi Pasutan, PO2 Hernani Saulong Decipulo, Jr., PO1 Pia Kamidon, PO1 Rainer Ebus, PO1 Esprielito Giano Lejarso, PO1 Herich Manisi Amaba, and Insp. Michael Joy Ynes Macaraeg. The arraignment for the four other suspects will be conducted on April 30.
But the deferment on the arraignment of the other suspects did not sit well with the prosecution. "Filing [a motion] a day before the hearing is meant purely to delay [the proceedings]," assistant chief state prosecutor Richard Fadullon said. The counsels of the accused who entered their pleas told the presiding judge that they would file a motion for bail. The proceedings, which started past 9 a.m., were attended by families of the slain journalists including Myrna Reblando and Karen Araneta, respective widows of Manila Bulletin's Alejandro "Bong" Reblando and dzRH's Herny Araneta, two of the over 30 media workers killed on November 23 in Ampatuan town. Karen expressed disappointment over the suspects' not guilty pleas.
Jail authorities at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City secure the area before the start of the arraignment for suspects in the November 23 massacre on Wednesday. Mark D. Merueñas
"Ano ito? tsismis na parang walang nangyari? Hindi tsismis ito dahil nawalan kami ng katuwang sa buhay at ang mga anak namin nawalan ng tinatawag nila na ama... Kaya hindi pwedeng basta magsalita na lang na not guilty," she said. Meanwhile, Myrna took the opportunity to criticize the decision of Justice Secretary Alberto Agra clearing two members of the Ampatuan clan. "
Bumalik kami sa depression. Hindi basta-basta ang hirap namin dito," she said.
— RSJ, GMANews.TV 
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