Kin of 14 Maguindanao massacre victims to settle with Ampatuans

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) - Families of 14 Maguindanao massacre victims have reportedly agreed to settle with some members of the Ampatuan clan charged for the gruesome killings, lawyer Harry Roque said on Monday.

Roque said the 14 victims have signed a written authority last February for a "close associate of the Ampatuans" to negotiate a settlement with the accused.

The lawyer chairs the Center for International Law, which represents four of the 14 victims.

"Under this scheme, the victims were to sign not just a waiver and quitclaim, but also an affidavit pinning the blame for the massacre to Governor Toto Mangundadatu," Roque said in article posted on his blog.

These developments have prompted them to a file a communication with the United Nations Human Rights Committee to seek redress from the Philippine government, which allegedly failed "to accord the victims their rights to an adequate remedy under domestic law and compensation."

“Unless the Philippine government complies with its duty to pay compensation, the victims will continuously be tempted with schemes that may eventually cause a miscarriage of justice," said Roque.

The infamous massacre in November 2009 claimed the lives of  58 people, including 31 journalists, and was considered the worst election-related violence and media-killings in the country.  

The main suspects belong to the powerful Ampatuan clan, including former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his namesake son, former Datu Unsay town mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr.

The 58 victims were part of an electoral convoy that was set to file the certificate of candidacy of Mangudadatu, then-gubernatorial candidate for the 2010 polls.

Also killed in the attack were members of the Mangudadatu clan, including the governor's wife and sisters.

The gruesome incident marked its 43rd month commemoration on Sunday.

"Thus far, it’s been almost 4 years and there is still no end in sight to the criminal prosecution of the Ampatuans," Roque said.

He noted that the Philippine government took almost four years just to file the information for the 58th victim, Reynaldo Momay.

"This should give us a clue on how long the criminal proceedings will take,” the lawyer said.