QC court dismisses Ampatuan bid to reopen 2009 Maguindanao masscare trial

October 29, 2019

The Quezon City Regional Trial Court dismissed the bid of one of the principal accused to reopen the trial of the 2009 Maguindanao massacre case, where 58 people, including 32 journalists, were killed.

In an October 25 order, Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes denied Datu Andal "Unsay" Ampatuan, Jr.'s motion to reopen the trial and suspend the promulgation of judgement on the case for lack of merit.

Ampatuan had sought for a retrial as former Sultan Barongis vice mayor Sukarno Badal, a state witness, had contacted him through a representative that he is inclined to recant his testimony.

In 2013 Badal said the Ampatuans plotted to kill the victims.

The Quezon City RTC ended the trial of the Maguindanao massacre case last August after holding trial for nine years. DMS