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Philippines court orders arrest of 189 for November massacre

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The Quezon City Trial Court in Manila on Thursday issued arrest warrants for 189 suspects for their alleged role in the November 2009 massacre in semi-autonomous Maguindanao province that left 57 dead. Eight more individuals are also wanted in connection with the killings, but they are already in custody on separate charges for allegedly mobilizing a rebellion to interfere with investigations into the massacre, including Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his son. Also Thursday, the Philippine police reported that 142 of the wanted suspects are still at large. The arrest orders were issued only a day before the campaign period for the May 2011 parliamentary elections kicks off. Last month, the Philippine Department of Justice (PDOJ) charged 197 people with murder in connection with the November 2009 killings. Among those charged was Andal Ampatuan Sr., a former political ally to Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In December, the PDOJ began the trial of more than 600 people charged with rebellion for allegedly interfering with government operations following the killings. Several of Ampatuan Sr.'s sons, including Andal Ampatuan Jr., the mayor of the southern Philippine town of Datu Unsay, have also been charged. Ampatuan Jr. has pleaded not guilty to 41 counts of murder. Following the killings, Arroyo imposed martial law and suspended habeas corpus in the province. She later lifted the conditions, following international pressure and domestic legal challenges.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on March 25, 2010 (boomark / email).