MANILA, Philippines – Nine police and two government militiamen pleaded not guilty Wednesday to last year's massacre of 57 people _ the Philippines' worst political violence, allegedly orchestrated by members of a powerful clan.
The 11 officers are among 198 suspects charged in the Nov. 23 killings _ unprecedented even in a country notorious for election violence and political murders.
They were arraigned for three months after principal suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr., a former mayor in southern Maguindanao province, also pleaded not guilty to charges that he led police and government paramilitaries in the slaughter of his political rivals and at least 30 journalists accompanying them.
The emotional trial opened in January in the Philippines' largest criminal case since the country's World War II prosecutions. But the trials are marred by allegations of political interference, stoked by a sudden decision last week by Acting Justice Alberto Agra to clear Ampatuan's brother and cousin of murder charges, citing lack of evidence.
The move triggered protests from his own prosecutors, as well as journalists' groups, human rights organizations and the victims' families, who questioned President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's commitment to seeking justice.
Arroyo has made no comment, but Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza said in a statement Wednesday that he asked Agra to meet with prosecutors to reconsider all evidence and to publicly justify his final decision.
The Ampatuans were close allies of Arroyo and helped her win the 2004 elections. Arroyo spokesman Gary Olivar said the president was studying Agra's decision and consulting lawyers.
In another heavily-criticized decision, authorities at the maximum-security jail housing the massacre suspects allowed Ampatuan to hold a news conference Tuesday, during which he said that Arroyo remained a family friend.
He professed his innocence again and endorsed a presidential candidate.
Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno expressed surprise Wednesday that Ampatuan was allowed to address reporters and said he would investigate.
"I was shocked to be honest. It looked like he was on vacation, he did not look like an inmate," Puno said, describing a smiling Ampatuan sitting at a table, looking fresh and relaxed.
Witnesses have testified that Ampatuan led dozens of gunmen in blocking a convoy of the rival Mangudadatu clan members, followers and journalists as they were about to register a gubernatorial candidate to challenge the Ampatuans' control of the province. They were later shot and buried in mass graves on a nearby hilltop.
Among other suspects are Ampatuan's father and family patriarch, Andal Ampatuan Sr., and four other relatives.
Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes on Wednesday allowed a delay in the arraignment of three other police because of a motion to quash charges filed by their lawyer.
The policemen, wearing detainee shirts, were handcuffed amid tight security at the packed courtroom.
Families of the victims were among those attending the proceedings. Several of the them petitioned the judge Tuesday to suspend the trial until a new president has succeeded Arroyo in July. They were not confident they would obtain justice while Arroyo remains in office, their lawyer Harry Roque said.
By TERESA CEROJANO
