DOJ to provide protection to families of Maguindanao massacre victims, says Malacañang

Maguindanao Massacre gravesite. Photo by Carlos H. Conde / Twitter

MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) is ready to provide protection to the families of the victims of the Maguindanao massacre, following reports about an attempt to bribe the widow of one of the victims, a Palace official has said.

“One of the things that we have really implemented is to make sure that the witnesses are covered under the Witness Protection Program,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing on Wednesday.

“That is very important for us—to protect them. And for those who are not covered by the Witness Protection Program, we would ask them and request them to join the program, so that they will not be put in harm’s way,” he added.

Lacierda advised those being offered money in exchange for their silence to file a complaint in court so that the Department of Justice could conduct an investigation.

“Otherwise, we won’t be able to act on it,” he said.

Lacierda however said it is not clear when the bribery attempt was made, considering that the prosecution has rested its case in the trial of the massacre.

The public, he said, is waiting for the defense to present its evidences.