After Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 84 Judge Luisito Cortez turned down the multiple murder case against the Ampatuans in connection with the infamous Maguindanao massacre, the case has been re-raffled off and was given to Judge Jocelyn Solis Reyes of Quezon City RTC Branch 221.

The Department of Justice earlier requested from the Supreme Court that the case be put under the jurisdiction of the Manila Regional Trial Court but Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim expressed disapproval, fearing for the safety of the Manileños.

It was then raffled off to Judge Cortez, who also refused to handle the case, citing fear for his and his family’s security. In addition, he said his hands are already full due to another controversial case – the two counts of murder filed against former Abra Governor Vicente Valera for the killing of Abra Rep. Luis Bersamin and his bodyguard in 2006.

Before the re-raffling, Quezon City judges guaranteed Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno that they will not refuse the case against the Ampatuans should it be raffled off to their sala.

The Chief Justice, for its part, assured that security will be given to whoever ends up handling the case.

The Quezon City Police District also assured that a team of policemen will be deployed full-time to the Quezon City courts once a judge has been chosen for the case.

“The QCPD will provide security to the sala. Even today (the schedule of the raffle for the judge), we have deployed policemen there,” QCPD director Chief Supt. Elmo San Diego San Diego said Thursday.

He said at least 10 policemen will be deployed to ensure the security of the Quezon City Hall of Justice for the duration of the trial against the Ampatuans apart from the security that will be provided by the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame.

The police official said the QCPD will also provide security to the house of the chosen judge even if no request is made given that he or she resides in the city as well.

Puno ordered the re-raffling of the Ampatuan multiple murder case following Cortez’s decision to inhibit from the case which drew flak from various quarters.

Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera criticized Cortez and suggested that he finds another job.