Interpreter problem in Maguindanao massacre trial solved

A new court-delegated interpreter on Wednesday finally ended the week-long delay of the Maguindanao massacre trial in Taguig City. At least two interpreters were made available on Wednesday's hearings to ensure that the hearing will no longer be stalled. Sukarno Ahmad was initially sent to the stand to interpret for Maguindanaoan-speaking witness Esmael Amil, but defense lawyers raised an objection. Lawyer Sigfrid Fortun, legal counsel for principal suspects Andal Ampatuan Sr. and son Andal Jr., said Ahmad — a court employee in Buluan town in Maguindanao — should not be allowed to be an interpreter "to avoid the impression of partiality." Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, whose wife and two sisters were among the 57 victims in the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre, was vice mayor of Buluan before he was elected governor in 2010. Mangudadatu's legal counsel, Nena Santos, tried to block Fortun's request: "The interpreter was appointed by the court [so] bias is not a question here." Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 eventually heeded the defense's request "so as to dispel any doubts." Replacing Ahmad was Ferdhaussee Ali, a Sharia court counsel from Cotabato City, who ended up interpreting for Amil for the rest of the day. The presence of an interpreter was considered vital in the proceedings as a considerable number of the witnesses so far being presented by the prosecution either only speak Maguindanaoan or had little grasp of Filipino and English. The original interpreter, lawyer Rolando Abo, begged off the proceedings due to Tinnitus, a hearing ailment, which he said prevents him from adequately performing his job during the trial. The prosecution, however, had claimed receiving reliable information that Abo was threatened by Andal Sr. in court during a break in one of the hearings. Fortun had denied this. Asked if he has apprehensions over his job, Ali said: "Having fear cannot be denied. Fear will inevitably be attached to anyone involved in the case. But I have a job to fulfill." Ali said he learned about his appointment as an interpreter only on Tuesday. He told GMA News Online that he is confident he will not be perceived as biased by the defense camp. "Being a law graduate, I am only for the interest of the law and interest of justice," he said. - KBK, GMA News