MANILA, Philippines (1st UPDATE) - The preliminary investigation into the Maguindanao massacre case held Friday ended quickly after the prime suspect, Andal Ampatuan Jr., waived his right to file a counter-affidavit to the multiple murder complaint.

Sigfrid Fortun, the lawyer for Andal Ampatuan Jr., told state prosecutors his client was waiving his right to file a counter-affidavit since Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera seemed to have already concluded that there is probable cause to charge his clients in court.

"With statements made by Secretary Devanadera, press statements in respect of strong evidence linking the Ampatuans, which will ensure that they are incarcerated for a long period of time, we, the Ampatuans in so far as the respondents that I represent, are submitting the matter for resolution by the panel," Fortun said.

He also invoked Section 16 of Article 3 (Bill of Rights), which says: "All persons shall have the right to a speedy disposition of their cases before all judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative bodies."

Lawyers of the other accused, meanwhile, asked the prosecution panel that they be allowed not to submit counter-affidavits in response to the complaint filed by the Philippine National Police (PNP). 

They said they would have to wait for copies of a separate National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) complaint, and then submit consolidated counter-affidavits.

The DOJ panel granted the motions of the lawyers, and then adjourned around 30 minutes after the proceedings started.

All parties were given 10 days or until December 28 to submit consolidated counter affidavits.

Lawyers representing the complainants, including human rights lawyer Harry Roque, also agreed to have the case already resolved by the DOJ.
 
But the head of the DOJ panel, senior state prosecutor Rosanne Balauag, said that even though the camp of the Ampatuans has waived its right to answer the complaint, there are other respondents in the case who still have to submit their counter-affidavits.

The other respondents, numbering almost 200, are expected to submit their counter-affidavits on December 28.

Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu was also present during the preliminary investigation at the DOJ.

Ampatuan Jr. passed by Mangudadatu on his way out of the DOJ multipurpose hall where the preliminary investigation was held.

The vice mayor said he told Ampatuan Jr. that he was like his dog since it is also in chains.

Mangudadatu said he was glad that the wheels of justice are moving, and expressed hope that the suspects will soon be charged.

Mangudadatu is one of the complainants in the Maguindanao massacre where his wife and two sisters were killed. They were going to file a certificate of candidacy for governor of Maguindanao on his behalf when they were abducted and summarily executed, along with other innocent civilians, by around 100 armed men. 

Thirty journalists who were going to cover the event were also executed in the world's worst single attack on members of the press.

Harassed by journalists

Ampatuan Jr. was harassed by a handful of Filipino journalists when he arrived Friday afternoon at the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the preliminary investigation into the mass murder of 57 people in Maguindanao province last month.

Ampatuan Jr. arrived shortly before 1:30 p.m. at the DOJ compound on board a bulletproof van. He came out of the van handcuffed and clad in a bulletproof vest.

Before Ampatuan Jr. entered the DOJ building, he was harassed by some members of the National Press Club (NPC). The journalists were holding several pictures of the bodies taken from the massacre site in Ampatuan town.

Marlon Purificacion, a reporter of People's Journal, threw pictures into Ampatuan Jr.'s face. The journalist said their protest is a show of support and sympathy for the 57 families of the massacre victims, which includes 30 journalists.

Another photojournalist also used his camera to hit Ampatuan Jr. on the forehead, opening up a small wound. Even his lawyer, Fortun, was pelted with pictures of the massacre.

Ampatuan Jr. has been charged with 25 counts of murder for the massacre. Several witnesses have testified he took part in the killings.

Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said Ampatuan Jr. was summoned to appear at the preliminary investigation because police have filed additional murder charges against the mayor.

Ampatuan Jr.'s father, former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., and several members of the powerful political clan, have also been charged with murder for the massacre.

Before Ampatuan Jr.'s arrival, a DOJ employee called out at least 175 names of respondents in the multiple murder case. More than 60 of them are policemen and 5 are members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The others facing murder complaints for the massacre are Shariff Aguak Vice-Mayor Ulo Ampatuan, Salibo Vice-Mayor Kanor Ampatuan, Shariff Aguak police auxiliary chief Tony Kenis Ampatuan, Abdullah Sangki, Muhamad Sangki, Tammy Masukat, Tumi Timba Abas, and Police Officer 1 Abbey Guiadem.

Devanadera said the police have filed multiple murder cases against 243 people.

Ampatuan Sr. and his other sons, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan and acting Maguindanao Gov. Sajid Ampatuan are currently detained for their supposed involvement in a rebellion, which prompted the government to place parts of the province under a state of martial law.

Police have filed rebellion charges against more than 600 people.