Ampatuan hearings to be held in QC for now

The proceedings for the Ampatuan multiple murder trial will be held in Quezon City for now, away from the usual venue in Taguig City where more than 80 suspects are locked up. Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes agreed to a suggestion to hold the hearings in her court room at the Quezon City Hall of Justice as the discussion on the autopsy reports of the victims does not require the presence of the suspects in the case. Assistant State prosecutor Richard Fadullon informed the judge on Thursday's hearing that they would only be presenting medico-legal experts in the next few hearings to discuss autopsy reports of the massacre victims. Fadullon said the hearing could just be held inside the judge's own court room for now because the suspects being tried are not required to show up at the trial anyway. Under court rules, an accused can waive his right to appear during a trial as long as there is no need for a witness to identify him or her. The defense camp, led by prime suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr.'s legal counsel Sigfrid FOrtun, agreed to the suggestion. Next week, Chief Inspector Dean Cabrera of the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory is expected to return to the witness stand to continue discussing autopsy reports on five more victims. So far he has already presented in court his findings on seven victims, including those of Leah Dalmacio and Rahima Palawan. Both were found to have manifested signs of rape or sexual contact. Cabrera also discussed the autopsy report of Romeo Cabillo, who sustained more than two dozens of gunshots wounds. The hearings were originally held inside the Philippine National Police at Camp Crame in Quezon City where most of the suspects were initially detained. However, as authorities arrested more suspects and moved them to a bigger detention facility at Camp Bagong Diwa City in Taguig City, the court had to hold the proceedings where the suspects are located. Trials were thus held inside a makeshift courtroom in Camp Bagong Diwa. – VVP, GMANews.TV