Andal Ampatuan Jr., the principal suspect in the massacre of 31 journalists and 26 other civilians in Maguindanao province on Nov. 23 last year, pleaded not guilty in the firsts day of his trial Tuesday for 41 murder charges so far filed against him. “Not guilty,” the lead lawyer of Ampatuan Jr. told the judge as his client stood beside him during the arrangment at the court inside the headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Quezon City. . Wearing a bullet-proof vest underneath his checkered polo shirt, Ampatuan Jr. was earlier brought to Camp Crame from his cell at the National Bureau of Investigation building in Manila under tight security. He was not in handcuffs when he entered the court. Ampatuan's lawyers and the prosecutors immediately clashed at the sala of Judge Jecelyn Solis-Reyes as prosecutors try to block plans by the defense for bail and over the presentation of witnesses. Ampatuan's chief legal counsel Siegfried Fortun asked for a preliminary investigation to give the defense an opportunity to study the documents that will be submitted by the prosecution and identify their witnesses. “It's like pulling the cart before the horse… all the pieces of evidence must be disclosed first... if they (prosecutors) are confident, I see no reason why they cant list down their witnesses first,” Fortun said. Fortun cited an administrative order issued by the Supreme Court in justifying his request for a preliminary investigation first. However, Judge Reyes also mentioned another provision in allowing the Department of Justice (DOJ) Assistant Chief State Prosecutor Richard Fadullon to present lawyer Ricardo Diaz, chief of the Counter Terrorism Unit of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), as one of the witnesses in the cases. The judge adjourned the hearing until Jan. 13 after the prosecution asked to present more than a dozen witnesses to block Ampatuan's application for bail. Security was tight at the hearing with reporters banned from bringing in cameras and any electronic devices. Instead, the Supreme Court had a courtroom sketch artist produce drawings of the hearing – a common procedure in the United States but rare in the Philippines. Ampatuan Jr pleaded not guilty to 41 counts of murder Tuesday, but is expected to be charged with 57 counts when final death certificates of other victims are processed. His father, Andal Ampatuan Sr. and several other clan members were arrested after martial law was imposed in Manguindanao and charged with rebellion. No date for their court appearance has been set.
