MANILA,Philippines - The Quezon City Regional Trial Court will push through today with the arraignment of three former militiamen in the Maguindanao massacre case.
Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes rescheduled the arraignment of Tato Sampogao, Taya Bangkulat and Salik Bangkulat who were supposed to enter a plea during yesterday's trial.
Defense lawyer Andres Manuel Jr. told the court that only one of his clients can understand Tagalog while the three only comprehend the Maguindanaoan dialect.
There was no translator present during yesterday's hearing at the makeshift courtroom in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City, prompting the postponement of the arraignment.
The four accused earlier withdrew an appeal for a reinvestigation of the charges against them.
Twenty-three other detained suspects in the massacre have yet to be arraigned, including ex-Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., and his son Rizaldy, former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor.
Ampatuan clan members were indicted for the carnage of 57 people, including several journalists, on Nov. 23, 2009 in a remote area of Brgy. Salman, Maguindanao.
The killings, considered the most gruesome in the history of Philippine politics, were allegedly led by ex-Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr.
Andal Jr.was the only member of the powerful political family to be arraigned for the multiple murder case. - By Dennis Carcamo
