Quezon City Judge Jocelyn Solis Reyes opened the trial of the November 2009 massacre, with nearly 200 accused and over 500 witnesses to be attending.

    The court hearing on Wednesday was only for the complaint filed by government prosecutors for Victor Nunez of UNTV against Andal Ampatuan Jr., the principal accused.

    The trial for the 56 others could not yet proceed due to the pending petition for bail filed by lawyer Sigfrid Fortun for Ampatuan, GMAnews.TV quoted Assistant Chief State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon as saying.

    At least 57 people were killed in the stunning massacre of journalists, civilians and relatives of politicians in the volatile southern Philippines in November last year. The victims were abducted as they were travelling to nominate an opposition candidate for governor in 2010 elections.