MANILA – The long-awaited verdict on the Maguindanao Massacre case will be finally out this month.
The Quezon City Regional Trial Court in charge of the case set the date of promulgation of judgment on the multiple murder cases filed against over 100 suspects – including members of the Ampatuan clan – on December 19, 9 a.m. at the Quezon City Jail-Annex in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.
QC RTC Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes announced the date of the promulgation on Monday in a notice that was sent to the parties of the case.
Among those who were due for sentencing were primary suspects Datu Andal “Unsay” Ampatuan Jr., his brothers Sajid and Zaldy, who were detained in his hospital since October.
Zaldy has been confined in the hospital since October after a stroke while Sajid was allowed to post bail in 2015.
On Nov. 23, 2009, a convoy composed of relatives, supporters, and media were on their way to file Mangudadatu’s certificate of candidacy for the 2010 elections when they were stopped by armed men, driven to a hill, shot, and buried in shallow pits.
Fifty-eight people, including 32 journalists and six motorists who were not part of the convoy, were killed in what is the worst case of election-related violence in Philippine history./PN
