DOJ hopes accused in Maguindanao massacre case will be convicted before President Aquino’s term ends

Department of Justice. Photo courtesy of doj.gov.phdoj

MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) panel of prosecutors is hoping that the accused in the infamous Maguindanao massacre case will be convicted before the term of President Benigno S. Aquino III ends on June 30, 2016.

The massacre claimed the lives of 58 civilians, including 15 women and 32 media practitioners, in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao on Nov. 23, 2009.

According to Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III, their objective to obtain justice for all the victims of the massacre is still not faltering despite the allegations of bribery on the part of some of the prosecutors in the case.

Baraan stressed that they have no other “agenda or motive” in their decision to finish the presentation of evidence against the 28 accused, including former Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., but to secure justice for the victims.

He said that the prosecution panel believes that through the “resting of the case” against some of the accused, the dispensation of justice will be expedited because the Supreme Court (SC) has allowed the rendering of “partial judgement” in the case.

Baraan explained that it is not required to have a “rebuttal of evidence” from the prosecution before the termination of the presentation of evidence.

Although Baraan admitted that the public prosecutors are hurting in the allegations of bribery, their target to win the case for the victims of the Maguindanao massacre is not wavering.