Fortun brod takes over Ampatuan defense

High-profile lawyer Raymond Fortun has taken over the defense panel in the multiple murder case filed against Andal Ampatuan Jr. in connection with the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, a case originally handled by his brother Sigfrid.

Court documents recently obtained by The STAR showed that Fortun’s law firm – Fortun and Santos Law Offices – has entered its appearance in Sept. 20 as corroborating counsel for Ampatuan.

Six days later, lead defense counsel Andres Manuel filed his withdrawal of appearance in the case.

Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes ordered the Fortun and Santos Law Offices to officially inform the court if it will act as lead counsel.

Asked if his firm will now take over the case, Fortun told The

STAR on Friday, “I guess so.” He did not elaborate on how he ended up taking over the case, which was originally handled by the Fortun Narvasa & Salazar (FNS) Law Offices, the firm where his brother is a name partner.

The FNS withdrew from the case in 2014, with Ampatuan later telling the court that he has no money to hire the services of a lawyer.

Salvador Panelo, now chief presidential legal counsel, took over the case and said he was doing it pro bono for the Ampatuans.

Panelo earlier claimed that the Ampatuans were only framed by their political allies in the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre, which claimed the lives of 58 people including 32 media practitioners.

Under him, the defense began its presentation of witnesses in the bail plea filed by the suspect. He called Ampatuan to the witness stand to testify on his supposed whereabouts during the crime.

The lawyer, however, withdrew from the case upon Ampatuan’s request in December 2015.

Manuel, a former defense lawyer in the case who withdrew with the FNS in 2014, returned and finished the presentation of the witnesses and testimonies in support of the bail application of Ampatuan.

The latest change in the defense counsel representing Ampatuan happened even as the court is set to rule on the bail plea.

Ampatuan is one of the more than 100 suspects are currently in detention in connection with the massacre, the trial for which has lasted for more than six years.