Gov’t drops murder raps vs 2 Ampatuans 04/18/2010

Gov’t drops murder raps vs 2 Ampatuans

04/18/2010 The Department of Justice (DoJ) yesterday said it will be dropping murder charges against two prominent members of the Ampatuan clan over the massacre of 57 persons last November. Suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan and former Maguindanao Vice Gov. Akmad Ampatuan were initially alleged to be two of the key planners of the election-linked killings in Maguindanao province but will be dropped from the list of those accused, Justice Secretary Alberto Agra said. “I just issued the resolution. I have already instructed the prosecutors to amend the charges to drop them against Zaldy and Akmad,” Agra told Agence France Presse, although he said lawyers opposed to his decision could appeal in court. The move was sure to provoke outrage among the relatives’ victims, who have repeatedly voiced concern that President Arroyo secretly intended to protect the Ampatuans because they were long-time political allies. The prosecution in February charged that Zaldy, Akmad and other members of the Ampatuan clan conspired to murder a convoy of political rivals and journalists in Maguindanao on Nov. 23.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100418hed1.html

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