Massacre witness swears by Holy Book of Ampatuans’ guilt

By Tetch Torres INQUIRER.net First Posted 11:57:00 09/29/2010 MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 2) A key witness in the massacre in Maguindanao on Wednesday swore by the Qu’ran that the main suspects in the killing of 57 people last year were responsible. “Sinusumpa ko po na mga Ampatuan ang pumatay sa massacre [I swear that the [...]

2 Ampatuans cleared of murder charges

By Tetch Torres INQUIRER.net First Posted 18:34:00 04/17/2010 MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) Two members of the Ampatuan clan charged earlier with multiple murder in connection with the Nov. 23, 2009, Maguindanao massacre were cleared Saturday of the charges by the Department of Justice. Justice Secretary Alberto Agra told inquirer.net in an interview that he granted the petition [...]

Ampatuan clan ‘violent,’ Arroyo execs warned rival

By Marlon Ramos, Abigail Kwok, Tetch Torres INQUIRER.net, Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 07:11:00 01/27/2010 MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE 6) President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s officials had repeatedly warned Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu against challenging the political bid of the Ampatuans because they were a “violent people,” the local executive himself told the court Wednesday. Mangudadatu said [...]

Ampatuan pleads not guilty to 41 counts of murder

By Tetch Torres INQUIRER.net First Posted 10:24:00 01/05/2010 MANILA, Philippines— (UPDATE 2) Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to 41 counts of murder. Appearing in striped pink polo shirt and in hand cuffs, Andal Jr., who is not conversant in English and Tagalog agreed that the information against him be [...]

EU, US asked: Stop aid to Arroyo war vs progressives

By Tetch Torres INQUIRER.net First Posted 13:35:00 12/15/2009 MANILA, Philippines — An international association oflawyers has urged the European Union and the United States to end their support of the Arroyo government to force the latter to stop its all-out war policy against progressives and people’s movements. The International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) said [...]

Martial law ‘alarming’, says ex-High Court justice

By Tetch Torres INQUIRER.net First Posted 18:12:00 12/08/2009 MANILA, Philippines – An expert on constitutional law said the declaration of martial law is “alarming” especially to those who will be arrested following its declaration. Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Vicente Mendoza said “the people arrested without warrant and detained for rebellion must be charged in [...]

SC asked: Stop martial law in Mindanao

By Tetch Torres INQUIRER.net First Posted 11:38:00 12/07/2009 MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) and Maguindanao First District Representative Didagen Dilangalen on Monday separately asked the Supreme Court to stop the implementation of Proclamation 1959 declaring martial law in several areas in Mindanao. In its very urgent petition for certiorari and prohibition, [...]

Ampatuans also ask: Nullify martial law

By Tetch Torres INQUIRER.net First Posted 13:54:00 12/07/2009 MANILA, Philippines—The controversial Ampatuan clan on Monday joined the clamor for the Supreme Court to stop the government from imposing martial law in Maguindanao, accusing the government of having the penchant for violating the law. In their 31-petition, the Ampatuans through their counsel Philip Sigfrid Fortun asked [...]

Declare Mindanao ‘emergency’ unconstitutional, SC asked

By Tetch Torres INQUIRER.net First Posted 17:15:00 12/03/2009 MANILA, Philippines – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan has asked the Supreme Court to declare as unconstitutional President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s order placing three provinces in Mindanao under a State of Emergency. In his petition for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, [...]

Ampatuan patriarch, four more kin charged for massacre

By Tetch Torres, Abigail Kwok INQUIRER.net First Posted 16:41:00 12/02/2009 MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE 3) Seven counts of murder were filed Wednesday against the Ampatuan patriarch, five members of his powerful clan, and six other suspects in the gruesome killing of at least 57 people in Maguindanao, officials said. Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., his sons Datu [...]