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The Quezon City Court handling the Maguindanao massacre case has dismissed the bail petition of former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan.
“In a text message to reporters, Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said they received [the] order of Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 dated September 15 denying the bail petition of the principal accused in the multiple murder case,” reports Edu Punay in The Philippine Star.
De Lima expressed her support for the prosecution team led by Taguig City prosecutor Archimedes Manabat.
“I have never doubted for a single moment the strength of the evidence of the state against the principal accused in the Maguindanao massacre case. The denial of the bail petition of Zaldy Ampatuan only shows that the focus of the DOJ prosecution team on this case is unwavering,” she said.
As a result of he denial of his bail petition, “Ampatuan will remain in detention throughout the duration of the trial until conviction and sentencing,” she pointed out.
Ampatuan is among the 197 suspects charged for the massacre of 58 people last Nov 23, 2009. Other members of the Ampatuan clan, including its now-deceased patriarch Andal Sr., were charged with 58 counts of murder.
