Relatives of the victims of the “Maguindanao Massacre’’ got a small yuletide gift yesterday as a Quezon City court handling the case ordered the arraignment of former governor Zaldy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, on the multiple murder charges filed against him.

In a five-page order, Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 said that the court finds “no cogent reason to reconsider” the motions for reconsideration filed by Ampatuan.

Reyes move was prompted by the Supreme Court third division decision on Wednesday, denying with finality the second motion for reconsideration of Ampatuan.

 “Accordingly, let the arraignment of accused Datu Zaldy ‘Puti’ Ampatuan be set on December 12, 2012 at 9 in the morning to be held at Quezon City Jail-Annex, Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City,” said the decision.

Reyes said that “the court is of the view that [the] arraignment of accused movant can no longer be deferred” since the Court of Appeals and the High Court had already denied Ampatuan’s motions for reconsideration in November 8, 2011 and in August 15, 2012, respectively.

In her decision, Reyes said: “a personal and independent determination was made that there was a need to continue to hold accused-movant under detention in order not to frustrate the ends of justice, contrary to his claim that the [judicial] finding of probable cause was based on the findings of the prosecutors.”

“The Court is of the view that discussion of the other issues raised by accused-movant is no longer necessary as the same are mere rehash of the arguments he raised not only before the appellate court but also this court in support of his Omnibus Motion to defer, which were already discussed and passed upon at length in the Omnibus Order sought to be reconsidered,” the decision added.

Ampatuan is one of the 197 suspects tagged in the massacre that claimed the lives of 58 people, including at least 32 media practitioners.

Other members of his family, including his father, former governor Andal Ampantuan Sr. of Maguindanao province and his brother former mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. Datu Unsay, were among those who were accused of masterminding the massacre.

Based on court records, only 81 including Andal Sr. and Andal Jr. of the 100 suspects arrested have already been arraigned.

Earlier this week, the prosecution panel also urged the court to arraign Zaldy’s brother former mayor Anwar Ampatuan Sr. of Shariff Aguak.

Other members of the Ampatuan clan who have yet to be arraigned include Anwar “Datu Ipi,” Anwar Sajid “Datu Ulo,” Datu Akmad Sr. and Datu Sajid Islam.