MANILA // At least three groups loyal to a former Philippine state governor's son on trial for the mass murder of 56 people are behind a plot to try to free him from the National Bureau of Investigation building where he has been detained since his arrest late last year.
The plot, which was confirmed by an NBI spokesman, Ricardo Diaz, last week, is the latest in a series of threats and intimidation of witnesses in the country's biggest murder trial.
Last Wednesday, 15 new murder charges were filed against Andal Ampatuan Jr, who is standing trial for the November 23 Maguindanao massacre, the worst act of political violence in the country's hstory.
A member of a politically powerful Muslim clan once allied to the administration of the president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Mr Ampatuan, a local city mayor from the southern province of Maguindanao and son of the provincial governor, has pleaded not guilty to the new charges.
With the 15 new cases filed against him, Mr Ampatuan is now facing 56 murder charges. He claims he is innocent in every case.
State prosecutors said the late filing of cases last week was due to difficulties in finding investigators outside the influence of the defendant's powerful family in Maguindanao. Prosecutors have alleged that the defendant and up to 100 members of his private army stopped a convoy of journalists and relatives and supporters of Esmael Mangudadatu, the vice mayor of Buluan, on a highway in Maguindanao, kidnapped the victims at gunpoint, then took them to a hillside where they were shot dead beside ready-dug mass graves. The dead included Mr Mangudadatu's wife and his pregnant sister, as well as 30 journalists.
"This is something that everyone must monitor every step of the way," said Ramon Casiple, a political analyst with the Institute for Political and Economic Reform. "What we are facing here is a very strong clan with very strong political connections and the capability to intimidate or even kill witnesses.
"This puts the justice system to a test because past cases with heavy political overtones have never been satisfactorily concluded. At the end of the day, it's still politics talking. And these warlords will not go down quietly."
One judge has already backed out of the case, saying he feared for his life. There have also been calls from prosecutors for the justice department to ensure the safety of witnesses.
Mr Ampatuan's father and several other prominent clan members were arrested after martial law was imposed on December 5 in Manguindanao and charged separately with rebellion.
The trial of Mr Ampatuan began on January 6 under intense security inside the national police headquarters in Manila. But since it began, family members of key witnesses have been murdered by supporters of the Ampatuans.
A cousin of Rasul Sangki, who was reported to have been with Mr Ampatuan at the time of the shooting, was shot dead just after Mr Sangki turned state witness to avoid prosecution.
At the time police said vengeance was the motive because Mr Sangki was testifying against Mr Ampatuan.
Shortly after the trial began militia members loyal to the Ampatuans torched a village where Mr Sangki lived. His home, however, was left untouched.
"It is a subtle but effective way to intimidate a witness," said a senior police commander who did not want to be named.
Police Inspector Rex Ariel Diongon, another key state witness, has been placed under the witness protection programme of the department of justice because it is feared that he too may be murdered.
Mr Diongon is among 66 policemen who were charged in the massacre. Since the charges were laid many of the police have turned state witness to escape prosecution and some have since disappeared.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer in a recent editorial said: "It is the events outside the courtroom that bode ill for the fair, impartial trial that the families of the victims expect and the country as a whole demands."
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
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Director: Laxman Utekar
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Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon, Pankaj Tripathi, Vinay Pathak, Aparshakti Khurana
Rating: 3/5
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The protective shell is covered in solar panels to make use of light and produce energy. This will drastically reduce energy loss.
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Work will begin in May; the first stone will be laid in Dubai in the second quarter of 2019.
Construction of the pavilion will take 17 months from May 2019 to September 2020.
Results:
6.30pm: Handicap (Turf) | US$175,000 2,410m | Winner: Bin Battuta, Christophe Soumillon (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer)
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (Dirt) | $100,000 | 1,400m | Winner: Al Hayette, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed
7.40pm: Handicap (T) | $145,000 | 1,000m | Winner: Faatinah, Jim Crowley, David Hayes
8.15pm: Dubawi Stakes Group 3 (D) | $200,000 | 1,200m | Winner: Raven’s Corner, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
8.50pm: Singspiel Stakes Group 3 (T) | $200,000 | 1,800m | Winner: Dream Castle, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor
9.25pm: Handicap (T) | $175,000 | 1,400m | Winner: Another Batt, Connor Beasley, George Scott
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
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The rules of the road keeping cyclists safe
Cyclists must wear a helmet, arm and knee pads
Have a white front-light and a back red-light on their bike
They must place a number plate with reflective light to the back of the bike to alert road-users
Avoid carrying weights that could cause the bike to lose balance
They must cycle on designated lanes and areas and ride safe on pavements to avoid bumping into pedestrians
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Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
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Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare
Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
The schedule
December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club
December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq
December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm
December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition
December 13: Falcon beauty competition
December 14 and 20: Saluki races
December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm
December 16 - 19: Falconry competition
December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am
December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am
December 22: The best herd of 30 camels
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
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TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court
Starting at 2pm:
Malin Cilic (CRO) v Benoit Paire (FRA) [8]
Not before 4pm:
Dan Evans (GBR) v Fabio Fogini (ITA) [4]
Not before 7pm:
Pablo Carreno Busta (SPA) v Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) [2]
Roberto Bautista Agut (SPA) [5] v Jan-Lennard Struff (GER)
Court One
Starting at 2pm
Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND) v Dennis Novak (AUT)
Joao Sousa (POR) v Filip Krajinovic (SRB)
Not before 5pm:
Rajeev Ram (USA) and Joe Salisbury (GBR) [1] v Marin Cilic v Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Nikoloz Basilashvili v Ricardas Berankis (LTU)
'Lost in Space'
Creators: Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Irwin Allen
Stars: Molly Parker, Toby Stephens, Maxwell Jenkins
Rating: 4/5
SPECS
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THE DRAFT
The final phase of player recruitment for the T10 League has taken place, with UAE and Indian players being drafted to each of the eight teams.
Bengal Tigers
UAE players: Chirag Suri, Mohammed Usman
Indian: Zaheer Khan
Karachians
UAE players: Ahmed Raza, Ghulam Shabber
Indian: Pravin Tambe
Kerala Kings
UAE players: Mohammed Naveed, Abdul Shakoor
Indian: RS Sodhi
Maratha Arabians
UAE players: Zahoor Khan, Amir Hayat
Indian: S Badrinath
Northern Warriors
UAE players: Imran Haider, Rahul Bhatia
Indian: Amitoze Singh
Pakhtoons
UAE players: Hafiz Kaleem, Sheer Walli
Indian: RP Singh
Punjabi Legends
UAE players: Shaiman Anwar, Sandy Singh
Indian: Praveen Kumar
Rajputs
UAE players: Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed
Indian: Munaf Patel
Race card
6.30pm: Emirates Holidays Maiden (TB), Dh82,500 (Dirt), 1,900m
7.05pm: Arabian Adventures Maiden (TB), Dh82,500 (D), 1,200m
7.40pm: Emirates Skywards Handicap (TB), Dh82,500 (D), 1,200m
8.15pm: Emirates Airline Conditions (TB), Dh120,000 (D), 1,400m
8.50pm: Emirates Sky Cargo (TB), Dh92,500 (D)1,400m
9.15pm: Emirates.com (TB), Dh95,000 (D), 2,000m
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Manchester United v Barcelona, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
