Maguindanao massacre suspect Zaldy Ampatuan asked the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QCRTC) to dismiss the multiple murder charges against him as one of the absolved police officers indicted in the case has a similar defense like his own.

QCRTC Branch 221 Presiding Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes earlier issued an order exonerating accused PO1 Johann Draper in the murder cases after finding out that he was nowhere near Maguindanao during the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre where 57 people were murdered.

In a seven-page manifestation filed through his counsel Atty. Redemberto Villanueva, Zaldy Ampatuan insisted that he be treated equally with Draper as they were practically in the same situation when the incident occurred.

“With all due respect to the Honorable Court, accused Zaldy Ampatuan respectfully points out that his situation and defenses (being somewhere else on material time and place) and that of PO1 Draper’s are alike, thus, it is respectfully submitted that it should merit the same assessment and finding,” Zaldy Ampatuan said.