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Maguindanao massacre hearing suspended due to translator's absence


The Maguindanao massacre case hearing on Wednesday was suspended shortly before noon because a lawyer who also acts as a translator, could not make it to the court due to an illness. Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyess of the Regional Trial Court in Quezon City informed both the prosecution and the defense that lawyer Rolando Abo could not attend today's hearing. Abo has been acting as a translator for the witnesses in the massacre case who could not speak in Filipino or English and only Maguindanaoan. Due to Abo's absence, the arraignment of five more suspects — two policemen and three members of the civilian volunteer organization who only speak and understand Maguindanaoan — was deferred. In a text message to the court sheriff Wednesday morning, Abo said he was suffering from "fever and coughs" and that he could not use his vehicle due to number coding. The prosecution, saying that all the witnesses they prepared for the day needed the help of a translator, instead asked that the hearing be continued on Thursday. 'Prepare an additional translator' Defense lawyers, however, contested the prosecution's request. "They [prosecution lawyers] should be diligent enough to ensure that such a hearing will not be cancelled. Maybe prepare an additional translator," said defense lawyer Andres Manuel. One of those who was supposed to return to the witness stand on Wednesday was Esmael Amil, a prosecution witness who testified last week that he drove three dozens of militiamen near the crime site hours before the killings on November 23, 2009. "May we know if the witness is willing to be cross-examined within the year?" an apparently frustrated Manuel asked the court and the prosecution. Private prosecutor Nena Santos, who represents families of 26 massacre victims, said the prosecution panel was more than prepared to present their witness but said they could not do anything if there was no court translator. "The absence of Attorney Abo is not the prosecution's call," she said. Civil aspect of the case To make the most of the day's hearing, defense lawyers requested that the prosecution instead present private complainants to testify on the civil aspect of the case in seeking damages. Lawyer Harry Roque, legal counsel for 15 private complainants, however said his clients, who are all based in Mindanao, did not attend today's hearing because they were not anticipating that they might be called to the stand. Abdulkalim Askali, another defense lawyer, expressed apprehension that the case could drag on "for 10 years or more" if proceedings will keep on getting suspended due to a missing translator. Solis-Reyes stepped in between the arguing lawyers and insisted it was neither the fault of the prosecution or the defense that the hearing was being suspended. "Nobody should be blamed for this since it was only this morning that Attorney Abo said he was not feeling well," the judge said. Solis-Reyes assured both panels that she would be coordinating with the Office of the Muslim Affairs to prevent similar incidents of an absent Maguindanaoan translator from happening.- VVP, GMA News

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