Victims' kin: Maguindanao massacre cases moving very slow

MANILA, Philippines - The families of the Maguindanao massacre victims on Wednesday decried the snail-paced trial of the accused in the multiple murder case.

In a media briefing at the University of the Philippines-Law Center in Diliman, Quezon City, the massacre victims' relatives called on President Benigno Aquino III and the Department of Justice for a speedy resolution of the case.

"Sobrang bagal po. Madaming tanong sa kaisipan na pumasok. Patas ba ang batas dito sa Pilipinas? Fifty-eight po ang pinatay. Brutally killed. Pakiramdam po namin pinaikot-ikot lang," said Monette Salaysay, wife of slain media worker Napoleon Salaysay.

She cited the time when they heard that one of the principal accused, Zaldy Ampatuan, former ARMM governor, was to be arraigned but his defense counsel opposed it.

"Ang layo po ng hustisya sa mga biktima," she added.

Noemi Parcon, wife of journalist Joel Parcon who was among the massacre victims, called on Quezon City Regional Trial Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes to decide on the case which has already dragged on for three years.

Parcon said the testimonies and the pieces of evidence that have already been presented before the court are sufficient for the judge to render a verdict.

"Gawan na nila ng decision. Pwede na nilang gamitin ang mga testimonya at ebidensya whether guilty or not guilty ang mga Ampatuan," the journalist's widow said.

The families also feared that the case would remain pending in courts long before they are dead.

"Baka mamya patay na kami pero hindi pa rin natatapos ang kaso at hindi pa namin nakakamit ang katarungan," they said.