CA junks bid to cite in contempt DOJ panel in Maguindanao massacre case

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MANILA — The Court of Appeals (CA) has dismissed the petition of the camp of Andal Ampatuan Jr. seeking to cite in contempt the Department of Justice (DOJ) panel of prosecutors handling the Maguindanao massacre Case.

The massacre claimed the lives of 58 civilians, including 15 women and 32 media practitioners in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao on Nov.

23, 2009.

The motion of the camp of Andal Jr. stemmed when the prosecution filed their second motion to turn as witness in the case Police Inspector Rex Ariel Diongon and Esmael Canapia.

The camp of the principal accused in the Maguindanao massacre case argued that the second “motion to discharge” filed by the DOJ panel is considered as “forum shopping”.

In a 22-page ruling written by Associate Justice Melchor Sadang, the CA’s Special 13th Division denied the motion filed by Andal, Jr. for lack of merit.

The CA said that the first and second “motion to discharge” filed by the DOJ panel are different from each other such that there are different accused mentioned in the two motions.

It added that the second “motion to discharge” was for the accused who are not yet arrested when the first “motion to discharge” was filed.