MANILA – Malacañang assured the relatives of the victims of the Maguindanao massacre that the Department of Justice was doing its best to get a verdict against the suspects soon.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the department was hastening everything in the prosecution of former Maguindanao mayor Andal “Datu Unsay” Ampatuan Jr. and others accused in the massacre that happened on Nov. 23, 2009.
“The DOJ is the one responsible for prosecuting the case and so it is doing its job – its best to speed up the prosecution of the case,” Panelo told a Palace press briefing.
“The resolution of the case will still depend on how quickly the prosecutors act on the case,” he added. “The courts will always rule on the basis of evidence – that has been the rule and that has been the training of all lawyers.”
While admitting that the wheels of justice in the country grinds slow, Panelo was confident the case will eventually be resolved, considering the strong evidence against the accused.
“Many cases take so long but what is important is justice will prevail,” he said. “Rule of law will have to be observed regardless who the persons involved are in any particular case.”
At least 58 people, including 32 journalists, were killed in what was believed to be an attempt of the Ampatuan clan to prevent Esmael Mangudadatu from filing his certificate of candidacy for Maguindanao governor in the 2010 elections.
Recently the Regional Trial Court Branch 221 in Quezon City submitted the case for resolution after suspect Datu Andal Unsay Ampatuan submitted his formal offer of evidence.
There were a total of 197 accused in the massacre, 103 of whom were currently on trial for multiple murders, including prime suspect Andal Jr., Zaldy and Datu Sajid Islam Ampatuan, who was allowed to post bail three years ago.
Another accused, former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., died in detention on July 17, 2015 due to a liver ailment./PN
