MANILA – Close to a decade since the infamous Maguindanao massacre took place, a court decision is expected to be handed out later this year, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
DOJ secretary Menardo Guevarra said the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 ended its trial last month and a verdict on the multiple murder case will come out before the 10th anniversary of the massacre on Nov. 23.
“The DOJ expects that a judgment will be rendered before the 10th anniversary of the infamous massacre on Nov. 23, 2019 and that justice will finally be served,” Guevarra said.
He added the case will be considered submitted for resolution after the government and the accused submit their memorandum, or a written summation of arguments, on or before Aug. 15.
At least 58 people, including 32 journalists, were killed on Nov. 23, 2009, in what was believed to be an attempt of the Ampatuan clan to prevent Maguindanao governor Esmael Mangudadatu from filing his certificate of candidacy for the 2010 election.
Members of the Ampatuan family, including former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan and former Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. were accused in the killing.
As of last year, almost 70 of the 198 individuals wanted for the massacre, considered as the single deadliest attack on journalists in the world, remained at large.
Some of the alleged perpetrators were dropped from the case and others have died, including Andal Ampatuan Sr., the clan patriarch and the alleged mastermind of the crime, who died in 2015./PN
