Mangudadatu hopes for guilty verdict for accused in Maguindanao massacre

December 19, 2019

Maguindanao Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu on Thursday reiterated his hope for a 100 percent guilty verdict for the major suspects in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre.


The promulgation of sentence of 101 accused, which was to take place at 9 am at Camp Bagong Diwa, has been delayed for one hour and 30 minutes as Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes is on her way, police said.


Solis-Reyes arrived at Camp Bagong Diwa at 10:34 am.


Fifty-eight persons, including the wife of Magundadatu who was  Buluan vice mayor  were killed in 2009 as they were bringing his certificate of candidacy  for the 2010 gubernatorial election.


This has been called as the country's worst-election related killing, where also 32 journalists perished.


In a chance interview with reporters at Camp Bagong Diwa, Mangudadatu said the court should give the guilty verdict to the accused as a Christmas gift to the families of the victims.


“That’s what we pray for. And if that will not happen or the number of percentage will decrease, the (verdict for the) major suspects should be 100 percent, he said.


Mangudadatu said they will question the verdict once a major suspect is not charged with a guilty verdict.


He added that he is favor for the judge to read the ruling even if it takes the whole day.


“It is only one day compared to a decade we waited,” he said.


The announcement of verdict over the massacre, according to the congressman will show that the law can punish those who violate it.


“Politicians, elected officials should always remember that they were mere servers and should not abuse their powers,” Mangudadatu said.


Asked on the revival of death penalty, Mangudadatu said it should be done  especially on major crimes like what happened in his province and on illegal drugs.


He then accused the Ampatuan family, the alleged mastermind behind the incident, of being high on illegal drugs when they committed the crime.


“If they did not used it (illegal drugs) will they do it? We are a free county, there is democracy, why will you do it?” he said. Ella Dionisio/DMS