MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City Regional Trial Court has deferred the much awaited Maguindanao massacre trial, frustrating both the prosecution panel and the families of the victims.

Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes moved the first day of trial to September 8, citing defense lawyers’ claims that they were not able to comment on the court’s pre-trial order.

This is 1 of the reasons cited last week by the lawyers of the Ampatuan family, saying the setting of the case for trial was “premature.”

The Ampatuans are the principal accused in the so-called Maguindanao Massacre, which claimed the lives of 57 civilians, including journalists.

Lawyer Sigrid Fortun had said there are a total of 7 motions that remain unresolved, including a request for the judge’s inhibition.

The defense actually asked that all the dates scheduled for September be deferred.

This latest development regarding the case has frustrated the other camp, blaming the defense team for using delaying tactics.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has already ordered the prosecution panel to come up with plans to counter the moves, including the filing of administrative cases against the defense team.

An ABS-CBN News source said disbarment cases may also be filed, due to earlier reports that the defense has bribed several witnesses to drop the charges.

In a phone interview, private prosecutor Harry Roque, Jr. described the decision of the judge “frustrating and disturbing.”

One of the petitioners, Catherine Nunez, told abs-cbnnews.com “this is unfair…parati na lang pinagbibigyan ang defense.”

She said some of the families came all the way from the provinces, only to learn that justice has been delayed anew.

Nunez said relatives of the victims were terrified that the Ampatuan clan accused of orchestrating last year's massacre would continue to intimidate them.

"They are rich. We do not have anything," said Nunez. "Our enemies are powerful and we fear for our lives."

More than 20 other relatives of the victims were also in the courtroom on Wednesday and they echoed Nunez's comments.

Nunez is the mother of one of the victims. The court hearing today was actually only for the complaint filed by prosecutors in behalf of Victor Nunez of UNTV.

The 56 other charges could not yet proceed. – with reports from Ces Drilon, ABS-CBN News; and Agence France-Presse