58th case filed vs Maguindanao massacre suspects

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday filed another set of murder charges against the Ampatuan clan for the killing of the 58th victim in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre.

In its complaint filed before the Quezon City regional trial court, the DOJ charged former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan, former Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., and 192 others for the murder of Reynaldo “Bebot” Momay.

The charges were filed following a DOJ investigation on the complaint filed by Ma. Reynafe Momay-Castillo, the daughter of the slain journalist. The DOJ said there is sufficient evidence that he was indeed part of the ill-fated convoy, composed of journalists and relatives of then Buluan vice mayor Esmael Mangudadatu.

According to Castillo, her father – a photojournalist for the Midland Review – called a colleague before the incident and said he was in a van together with other media people.

Momay’s body was never found, but a team from the Commission on Human Rights led by a forensic expert has recovered parts of his dentures.