‘Slow massacre trial highlights judicial flaw’

MANILA, Philippines - The slow pace of the Maguindanao massacre trial may be attributed to flaws in the country’s judicial system, a private prosecutor said yesterday.

“There’s a flaw in the entire legal system… We’re not equipped to handle these many cases, these many victims against these many accused and these many private complainants,” said Harry Roque, also the director of the Center for International Law, which represents some of the victims in the trial.

“We all want speedy justice… but there are institutional restrictions. It’s been four years, maybe it’s time to sit down and talk about these restrictions,” he added.

Roque said the “imperfect system” is compounded by the problem of having too many victims and suspects.

Fifty-eight people, including 32 media practitioners, died in the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre. A total of 197 suspects, including members of the Ampatuan clan, were charged for the mass murder.

Roque had said the Maguindanao massacre trial, given its current pace, could last for another 16 years since almost half of the accused are still at large.

He said only 20 percent of the trial against the accused is finished and the prosecution panel has yet to rest its case regarding the bail petition of the suspects.

4th anniversary

Journalists from six Central Luzon provinces will mark the fourth anniversary of the massacre tomorrow with a rally in Angeles City.

Fred Villareal, vice chairman of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines in Pampanga, said NUJP members in Central Luzon would assemble at the Astro Park near Clark Freeport Zone.

“We are not content with merely demanding justice in the case and an end to impunity in our judicial system, but also a timeline in resolving the case that should wind up within the term of President Aquino in 2016,” he said.

“Prayers will be said and candles lit for the victims and the families of the massacre,” he added.

Rowena Paraan, national chairman of the NUJP, said they would also visit the site in Sitio Masalay to retrace the events of the massacre.

“Four years has already passed and justice has yet to be served to the victims. Our visit to the massacre site is a way of renewing our commitment and making the people aware of our continuing quest for justice, not only for the victims of the Ampatuan massacre but for all cases of media killings in the country,” she said.

NUJP chapters in Bulacan and Pampanga organized prayer rallies and candle lighting activities yesterday and today to mark the anniversary of the massacre.

Exhibits

Meanwhile, the lawyer of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his sons Andal Jr. and Zaldy yesterday filed an opposition to the exhibits offered by the prosecution in connection with their respective bail petitions.

Among those opposed was the sworn statement of witness Joseph Jubelag that photojournalist Reynaldo Momay was part of the convoy that was ambushed in Maguindanao. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Ding Cervantes, John Unson, Dino Balabo