Ampatuan, 16 others plead not guilty on 57th murder charge

Massacre suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr. and 16 other individuals pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a 57th murder charge connected to the November 2009 carnage in Maguindanao. The 57th murder charge pertained to the killing of UNTV anchor Victor Nuñez, one of the victims of the bloody carnage in Sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao. The suspects were previously charged only with the murder of 56 people because the identity of Nuñez was not yet verified at the time the charges were filed. Nuñez's widow, Catherin, attended Wednesday's arraignment at Camp Bagong Diwa in taguig City. Apart from Andal Jr, other accused who pleaded not guilty to the new murder charge were Takpan Dilon, Esmael Canapia, PO2 Hernanie Decipulo Jr., PO2 Saudiar Ulah, PO2 Saudi Pasutan, PO1 Herich Amaba, PO1 Esprielito Lejarso, PO1 Rainer Ebus, Inspector Rex Ariel Diongon, Inspector Michael Joy Macaraeg, and PO1 Pia Kamidon. Chief Inspector Sukarno Dicay, PO3 Rasid Anton, Muhamad Sangki, Maot Dumla, and Thong Guimano pleaded not guilty not only to the 57th murder charge, but also to the 56th murder charges - of which they were not included originally. Meanwhile, the arraignment of four other suspects—Supt. Abdulwahid Pedtucasan, Senior Inspector Abdul Gapor Abad, and PO1 Michael Macarongon and Mohammad Balading— was deferred. The four suspects were among 62 local policemen of Maguindanao who were suspended and are currently facing administrative charges before the National Police Commission.
 During Wednesday's hearing, Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes said the counsel of Andal Jr. filed on Tuesday yet another motion for voluntary inhibition. The camp of Ampatuan, the former mayor of Datu Unsay town, had in the past filed motions for recusation (or inhibition) and amended recusation, which were denied. Solis-Reyes said bail proceedings of Andal Jr. could not proceed yet because "we have to resolve first all pending inihibitions and recusations." Private prosecutor Nena Santos blasted Andal Jr.'s move for a new inhibition, saying it would only further delay the trial. "Records of the court would show na kami ang nagpapabilis ng kaso (that our camp is the only one that expedites the trial)," she said. For his part, Maguindanao Gov. Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu, whose wife and sisters were among those killed in the massacre, told reporters after the hearing that he hoped the resumption of the trial "ay magpapabilis sa kaso (Would speed up the resolution of the case)." Wednesday's hearing on the Maguindanao massacre was the first one after more than three months. The last hearing at Camp Bagong Diwa was on April 21, when nine suspects pleaded not guilty of multiple murder charges.

 The families of the 57 victims have earlier said they are pinning their hopes on President Aquino for a speedy resolution of the case. –VVP, GMANews.TV