DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/18 April) – A lawyer of the Ampatuans said it’s up to the judge handling the massacre case to order the release of Zaldy Ampatuan and his brother in law Akmad Ampatuan.
“It is not automatic dismissal,” lawyer Alexis Lumbatan told MindaNews.
Acting Justice Secretary Alberto Agra on Friday said there was no probable cause to charge them with murder.
Lumbatan said it is up to Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes who is handling the case, to accept or not the DOJ findings of lack of probable cause against the suspended governor of the Autonomous Region in MuslimMindanao, Zaldy Ampatuan and former Mamasapano mayor, later Acting Maguindanao vice governor Akmad Ampatuan.
Arraignment of the suspects in the massacre case is scheduled on April 21.
Lumbatan said they can file a motion to quash the information against the two, citing the Agra order.
If the information for multiple murder against the two is withdrawn, they will no longer be arraigned but released because there will be no more basis to keep them detained, Lumbatan said. (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews)
