Int’l community lauds Maguindanao Massacre decision

FILE: JUSTICE SERVED. Relatives of the Maguindanao massacre victims accompanied by lawyer Harry Roque (3rd from right) flash the victory sign after the promulgation of the decision on the case in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City on Thursday (Dec. 19, 2019). A decade after the incident, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court found Datu Andal Unsay Ampatuan, Jr., Zaldy Ampatuan, Anwar Ampatuan, Sr., and several others guilty of 57 counts of murder and were sentenced to reclusion perpetua (up to 40 years imprisonment). (PNA photo by Joey Razon)

MANILA — The European Union (EU), including some Western nations, has welcomed the verdict against the principal suspects in the Maguindanao massacre case.

“Justice has been served for the victims and families of the Maguindanao Massacre,” the EU delegation in Manila said Friday.

“The EU is committed to combating impunity for crimes against journalists and media workers everywhere. The Maguindanao Massacre verdict is welcome news,” it noted.

United States Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim also hailed the case’s decision promulgated on Thursday, citing it as an “important step” towards justice.

“Our hearts are with the victims and their families after the release of the Maguindanao Massacre verdict. This is an important step towards accountability and justice,” Kim said on his official Twitter account.

Following this statement, the Canadian government on Friday also described as a success the conviction of the Ampatuan brothers and 20 other suspects.

“The conviction of those primarily responsible for this dreadful incident is an important moment in the fight against impunity and political violence,” it said in a statement.