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[av_heading heading=’CA affirms bail for 16 cops in Maguindanao massacre’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’18’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”][/av_heading]
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Tuesday, February 27, 2018
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MANILA – The Court of Appeals (CA) upheld a court decision allowing 16 police officers who were among the 198 accused in the Maguindanao massacre to be released on bail.
Its 10th Division denied the state prosecutors’ motion seeking the reversal of the decision of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Presiding Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes to approve the petition for bail filed by the officers from the 1508th Provincial Mobile Group.
“No new and legitimate ground was raised to reverse or set aside the court’s earlier finding,” the appellate court said.
Reyes committed grave abuse of discretion and acted in excess of jurisdiction in granting the petition for bail, state prosecutors said.
She limited herself to the testimonies of only 13 out of the 35 prosecution witnesses and disregarded other undisputed and material facts that would warrant the dismissal of the bail petition, they said.
Reyes issued the ruling on Oct. 13, 2014.
“Even on second hard look, no cogent reason surfaces to warrant the reconsideration sought,” read the Court of Appeals resolution penned by Associate Justice Jhosep Lopez and concurred by associate justices Ramon Bato Jr. and Samuel Gaerlan.
Fifty-eight people were killed on Nov. 23, 2009 in Maguindanao in the worst election-related violence in the Philippines.
In granting the petition, Reyes said none of the testimonies or exhibits presented by prosecution particularly linked and identified the officers to the relevant times and places of the alleged killings.
Granted bail were Police Officer (PO) 1 Heirich Amaba, PO3 Rasid Anton, PO3 Felix Enate, PO1 Esprielito Lejarso, PO1 Narkouk Mascud, PO2 Saudi Pasuta, PO1 Arnulfo Soriano, PO1 Pia Kamidon, PO3 Abibudin Abdulgani, PO2 Hamad Nana, PO1 Esmael Guilal, PO1 Abdullah Baguadatu, PO2 Saudiar Ulah, Senior Police Officer (SPO) 1 Eduardo Hong, SPO1 Oscar Donato, and Inspector Michael Joy Macaraeg. (PNA)
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