Akmad Ampatuan Sr due in court after SC junks plea

Rappler.com

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Akmad 'Tato' Ampatuan Sr, son-in-law and nephew of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr, will be arraigned along with other suspects in the massacre

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Datu Akmad “Tato” Ampatuan Sr failed to get a status quo ante order with the Supreme Court, leading to his scheduled arraignment in connection with the 2009 massacre in Maguindanao that killed 58.

“The Supreme Court Third Division denied the petitioner Ampatuan Sr.’s prayer for a status quo ante order to suspend the proceedings,” said a Supreme Court press briefing issued Wednesday, July 31.

Tato Ampatuan, son-in-law and nephew of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr, will be arraigned along with other suspects in the massacre, which left 58 people dead, among them 32 media workers.

His arraignment is scheduled for August 7, 2013. It was deferred last June, after he and Sajid Islam Ampatuan filed separate motions before the SC and the Court of Appeals.

Tato Ampatuan petitioned against a Court of Appeals decision affirming a 2011 Department of Justice (DOJ) resolution that found probable cause for filing multiple murder. 

The case is being heard by Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 221.

The Ampatuan clan is accused of masterminding the massacre to stop the wife of now Maguindanao Governor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu from filing a certificate of candidacy on his behalf.

The Maguindanao massacre is the worst case of election-related violence in Philippine history, and is one of the deadliest attacks on the media.

About 90 other suspects remain at large almost 4 years after the killings. – Rappler.com

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