The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division on Tuesday issued three warrants of arrest against former Maguindanao governor Datu Sajid Islam Ampatuan in connection with multiple criminal cases leveled against him.
Justice Rodolfo Ponferrada ordered the arrest of Ampatuan for 137 counts of falsification of public documents, four counts of malversation of public funds and four counts of graft in connection with an allegedly anomalous P72-million school buildings project.
The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division ruling also covered the arrest of Ampatuan’s co-accused—John Estelito Dollosa Jr., Kasan Macapendeg, Osmeña Bandila, Norie Unas, Datu Ali Abpi, Al Haj, and Landap Guinaid. Ampatuan was asked by the court to post P3.5 million.
Ampatuan, the son of the late former Maguindanao governor and clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr., was released from jail on March 9, 2015 after posting a P11.6-million bail.
He posted bail two months after the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 granted his appeal in January 2015 for temporary liberty and set his bail at P200,000 per murder count, or a total of P11.6 million for the 58 counts filed before the court. Maricel V. Cruz