Quezon City judge won't take massacre case
MANILA, Philippines - For fear of his and his family's safety, a Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QCRTC) judge on Tuesday refused to take the multiple murder case filed against Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. and more than 100 John Does.
The case is connected to the massacre of 57 innocent civilians in Ampatuan, Maguindanao last November 23, which is the worst election-related killing in Philippine history.
| Read Newsbreak's investigative story in 2008 on the unabated killings of judges in the Philippines and the slow response of authorities with regards to this problem: A Cry for Justice: 44 Judges Killed in Recent Years |
The Supreme Court earlier granted the Department of Justice's request to transfer the venue of the multiple murder case from Cotabato City to Quezon City due to possible security threats to prosecutors and witnesses.
Judge Luisito Cortez of QCRTC Branch 84 was chosen during Tuesday's raffle of the case by the Quezon City Office of the Clerk of Court. Cortez, however, said he will inhibit himself from the case because of possible threats to his security.
"I would like to serve but there are other factors like family. I will explain my side to the highest court," he told ABS-CBN.
The judge said the influence of the Ampatuans extends all the way to Metro Manila and could affect his family.
Cortez said he has been receiving death threats after he took on the case of murdered Abra Congressman Luis “Chito” Bersamin. Bersamin and his police bodyguard, Senior Police Officer 1 Adelfo Ortega, were shot dead at the patio of Mount Carmel Church in New Manila, Quezon City on Dec. 16, 2006.
Quezon City judges said they will conduct another raffle of the Ampatuan massacre case, this time behind closed doors in case the chosen judge again inhibits himself from the case.
After a judge is chosen, the massacre case will be heard in Camp Crame. -- With a report from Jay Ruiz, ABS-CBN News
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Satur Ocampo?
Aaaaaaaaaaaah! ayos yan ako pabor satur para judge kasi si satur may BAYAG tagal yan kulong alam ko yan kasi ako supply siopao sa kampo at kita ko tibay niya torture pitpit na kanya BAYAG di pa siya kanta di gaya tao dito puro salita pero pitik lang kanta na. Go satur tapang ka talaga tao bilib sa iyo mga intsik ako supota sa yo bantay ko bahay mo para di ka paktay.
breaking news!
breaking news....
Rep. Satur Ocampo volunteers to be the judge in QCRTC handling the massacre case even though he is not qualified to do so.
100 percent ang supporta kay Satur Ocampo ng mga pro-martial law sa Maguindanao. Go Ocampo, go!
ok, ok, lifted na ang martial
ok, ok, lifted na ang martial law and ayaw ding tanggapn ni judge cortes ang caso. so by now, all roads lead for rep. satur ocampo,rep. teddy casiño,atty. roque and atty. diokno to take the center stage. anong diskarte nyo ngayon? hoy! kayong apat anong gagawin nyo?
intelligente nga kayo pero ang duwag nyo. subukan nyong bisitahin si andal jr. sa nbi. kaya nyo bah?
daldal lang ng daldal about sa martial law, hindi nga kayang bisitahin si andal jr. sa nbi. shame!
Volunteer
sino ba volunteer gusto maging judge para litis si pareng ampatuan? sabi ko kay ate glorya para bigay niya tsansa sa mga tapang na tao. Si Jr. small but terrible pero si Sr. talaga tapang siya kasi si ate glo takot siya usap. si ate glo takot presidente siya kaya si judge lalo takot.
talagang walang katarungan sa
talagang walang katarungan sa bayan ni Juan! Kitang kita ang pamumutla at pagkupos ng BAYAG mo! Nag RTC Judge ka pa, kung pipili ka lang din ng mga hahawakang kaso. Dapat sa yo mag judge ka na lang ng mga beauty contest ng mga BAKLANG kagaya mo na walang bayag, nakakahiya ka!
alang bayag
I think the judge or judges are not DUWAG, only the system are CORRUPT. Alang pag-asa in Pinas if everyone are DOG EAT DOG.
Judge DREADED
You resign right now to save yourself from anymore embarassment.
Since the Ampatuans were arrested under martial law they should be tried under the jurisdiction of the military courd. If found guilty they be summarily shot using the weapons and ammunition that were confiscated. Ubusin lahat ng bala sa kanilang katawan at ilibing sila kung saan nila pinagpapatay ang mga biktima.
To Protek
protek and serve nga pero pag paktay pamilya walang protek, wala tiwala judge kay ate glorya kasi naman si ate glorya kumpare ampatuan. talaga takot si judge kasi baka paktay pamilya lungkot na buhay ni judge di bale na takot wag lang lungkot. madami diyan tapang tao sila ng lang huwag na pilit takot na judge.
Judge
Problema talaga ito kung mga judges ay natatakot sa sagad butong kriminal at di pa garantisado ang kaligtasan dahilan sa koneksyon sa pangulo at general na nag armas sa mga salot na ito. Kukute Suprema di rin segurado sa Pangulo. Ano kaya ipaubaya na lang sa hukuman ng MILF ang mga Ampatuans o kaya totoo ba ang hukumang bayan? Sila na lang ang maglitis sa mga kriminal na ito.
To protect and Serve
Ang Judge ay nanumpa ng TUNGKULIN sa mamamayan, kung takot sya sa kanyang buhay at sa kanyang mga pamilya, ay puwede namang mag apply ng assylum sa United States, pero unahin dapat nya yung kanyang tungkulin. Oo, naging siguradong kaugnay si ate Glo sa mga Ampatuan pero sigurado rin akong hindi nagbigay si ate Glo ng order na "license to Kill". Nag umpisa yan sa negosyo lamang at walang personalan, hanggang sa unti unti naging absolute powerful dynasty clan ang mga Ampatuan's, hindi nakita ng marami ang danger sign, at lahat ng panig ng pamahalaan ay naging hawak nila pati na ang police at militar dahil sa mga negosyo na nakatali. Marami talaga ang kasama rito sa kasong ito pati na ang presidente at mga opisyal ng militar na nagbigay ng mga armas at ito ang "MASS CONSPIRACY" sa mga Pilipino.