The Daily Manila Shimbun

 

Palace vows other fugitives in Maguindanao massacre to be caught

November 23, 2020



Malacanang vowed on Monday that authorities will continue to go after the remaining suspects who remain at large in the Maguindanao massacre.

In a televised press briefing in Davao City, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque remembered the gruesome killings of 58 individuals, 32 of whom were members of the media, in Ampatuan, Maguindanao on Nov. 23 2009.

"Justice has been served under the Duterte administration. At least the Ampatuan siblings who planned the Maguindanao massacre have been in jail and this is justice for the victims and relatives of those who died," he said.

"There are suspects who remain at large but they will be caught and be held liable under the law. We will never forget," Roque added.

In December last year, Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of Branch 221 of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City found guilty beyond reasonable doubt 28 accused, including some members of the powerful Ampatuan clan.

Among them were former Datu Unsay, Maguindanao Mayor Datu Andal "Unsay" Ampatuan Jr.; his brothers former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan and Datu Anwar Ampatuan Sr; and his nieces former Maguindanao Governor Datu Anwar Sajid "Datu Ulo" Ampatuan and Datu Anwar "Datu Ipi"Ampatuan Jr. They were sentenced to suffer reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years of imprisonment without parole for 57 counts of murder.

Of the almost 200 suspects in Maguindanao massacre, only 101 were tried while some 80 others were at large.

The Maguindanao or Ampatuan massacre is considered as the deadliest single-day attack on journalists in the world and the worst election-related case of violence in recent Philippine history. Celerina Monte/DMS