Judge allows Ampatuan hearings twice a week but only in December



The Quezon City judge hearing the multiple murder case against Andal Ampatuan Jr. and the other suspects in the Maguindanao massacre said the proceedings will be held twice a week but only for the month of December. On Wednesday, Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes said next month's schedule for the hearings would be: December 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, and 16.

 Reyes said the hearings will be held only once a week starting in January 2011. Both the prosecution and defense even suggested if the new schedule could go on until next year in order to expedite the trial, which a lawmaker had earlier predicted could last for 200 years.

 "Maybe we can make it spill over up to January and beyond," said Andal Ampatuan Jr's legal counsel Sigfrid Fortun told the court.

 However, the judge rejected the request citing a lack in staff members who would take down stenographic notes of the proceedings.

 "But I will be asking Judge (Vivencio) Baclig to lend me a staff who will help us," Solis-Reyes said at the resumption of hearing at a makeshift courtoom inside the Quezon City Jail Annex Building in Tauig City. 

Baclig of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 77 earlier heard then dismissed the rebellion case against members of the Ampatuan clan for allegedly plotting to throw over the Arroyo administration shortly after the November 23 massacre.

 During Wednesday's hearing two more suspects — Macton Bilungan and Norman Taktak — pleaded not guilty to charges of 57 counts of murder. 

The arraignment scheduled in the morning was pushed back to the afternoon after the translator for the two suspects arrived late. – VVP, GMANews.TV