MANILA – Despite the guilty verdict handed out to majority of the primary suspects in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, relatives of the victims did not feel the closure yet.
Second District Rep. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu of Maguindanao said the fight is “far from over” with the convicted, mostly from the Ampatuan clan, planning to appeal the decision of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes.
The lawyers of the Ampatuans on Thursday made the manifestation to file motions for reconsideration and the relevant pleadings within 15 days after their clients were convicted of 57 counts of murder.
“Maituturing nating moving forward. Wala pang closure eto eh,” Mangudadatu said. “Kung may guilty verdict, pupunta silang Court of Appeals, Supreme Court. Matagal na proseso ‘yan. Long fight pa ito.”
Just like the other relatives of the massacre victims, Mangudadatu wanted full justice for those behind what was considered the country’s worst case of election-related violence.
He said he will appeal the acquittal of Sajid Islam Ampatuan, currently the mayor of Shariff Saydona Mustapha town, and Akmad “Tato” Ampatuan Sr. before the Court of Appeals and even to the Supreme Court, if necessary.
Aside from the two acquitted Ampatuans, there are still 50 suspects who were up for a verdict in the second phase of promulgations in the case – 80 suspects are still at large.
“Bagama’t hindi lahat ng akusado ay nahatulan ng pagkakakulong, kami ay nagagalak pa rin dahil ang mga dapat masakdal ay nakatakda ng makulong pang habang-buhay,” Mangudadatu said.
Meanwhile, other kin of the massacre victims feared for their safety following the acquittal of the two Ampatuans and other police officers previously linked to the massacre.
“Natatakot din kami… Nakaya nga nilang patayin ang isa sa mga magulang namin, paano pa kami? Pwede rin nila kaming balikan,” a member of the Maravilla family said.
The Maguindanao massacre has been tagged as the single deadliest attack on journalists in history and the worst case of election-related violence in the country./PN
