National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents escort Andal Ampatuan Jr. (in white), a local mayor of Maguindanao province, during the start of his trial at a police camp in Manila's suburban Quezon city January 13, 2010.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    MANILA, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The main suspect behind the Maguindanao massacre will again face the Philippine courts Wednesday morning.

    Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. arrived in Philippine National Police headquarters at Camp Crame around 6:30 a.m. for the resumption of his trial for multiple murder.

    The court, presided by Quezon City regional trial court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes, is tackling the petition for bail filed by the Ampatuan camp.

    Government prosecutors are urging the court to reject Ampatuan's bail bid, prosecution lawyer Pete Principe said in an interview aired over local radio station dzBB.

    He added prosecutors will also offer witnesses to show that the evidence against Andal Jr. is strong. These witnesses include Ampatuan town Vice Mayor Rasul Sangki and Karen Araneta, the widow of dzRH reporter Henry Araneta, one of the journalists killed in the massacre.

    Andal Jr. is the scion of the powerful Ampatuan family and allegedly masterminded the Nov. 23 killing of 57 people, including journalists and supporters of a political rival, in the southern province of Maguindanao.

    Andal Jr. pleaded not guilty to murder charges.

Witness says Ampatuan family involved in Maguindanao massacre

    MANILA, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- A state witness testified that DatuUnsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. and his father, clan patriarch Andal Sr., were involved in the November 23 murder of 57 people, including journalists and women, according to local media.

    Local TV station GMA News reported that Datu Rasul Sangki, vice mayor of Ampatuan town, claimed in Wednesday's trial, that Andal Jr. and his private army commandeered the convoy led by the wife of Buluan town Vice Mayor Ismael "Toto" Mangudadatu. Full story

Andal Ampatuan Jr., a local mayor of the Maguindanao province, is examined by doctors inside his detention cell at the National Bureau of Investigation in Manila January 13, 2010. Ampatuan is currently on trial over accusations that he led the massacre of 57 people, including journalists and relatives of his political rivals, in November last year in southern Philippines.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>