Yagami Website

MANILA, Philippines - For fear of his and his family's safety, a Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QCRTC) judge on Tuesday refused to take the multiple murder case filed against Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. and more than 100 John Does.

The case is connected to the massacre of 57 innocent civilians in Ampatuan, Maguindanao last November 23, which is the worst election-related killing in Philippine history.

The Supreme Court earlier granted the Department of Justice's request to transfer the venue of the multiple murder case from Cotabato City to Quezon City due to possible security threats to prosecutors and witnesses.

Judge Luisito Cortez of QCRTC Branch 84 was chosen during Tuesday's raffle of the case by the Quezon City Office of the Clerk of Court. Cortez, however, said he will inhibit himself from the case because of possible threats to his security.

"I would like to serve but there are other factors like family. I will explain my side to the highest court," he told ABS-CBN.

The judge said the influence of the Ampatuans extends all the way to Metro Manila and could affect his family.

Cortez said he has been receiving death threats after he took on the case of murdered Abra Congressman Luis “Chito” Bersamin. Bersamin and his police bodyguard, Senior Police Officer 1 Adelfo Ortega, were shot dead at the patio of Mount Carmel Church in New Manila, Quezon City on Dec. 16, 2006.

Quezon City judges said they will conduct another raffle of the Ampatuan massacre case, this time behind closed doors in case the chosen judge again inhibits himself from the case.

After a judge is chosen, the massacre case will be heard in Camp Crame.