De Lima: Maguindanao massacre convictions by 2016

Justice Sec. Leila De Lima (screengrab from News5 InterAksyon footage)

MANILA – Half a decade after the killing of journalists and civilians in Maguindanao, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima is asking the victims’ relatives to wait for two more years.

“My being justice secretary is co-terminus with the term of President Aquino.

I will do my best to secure conviction before I step down from DOJ too,” she said.

De Lima on Sunday promised that she will regularly update the Filipinos of the developments of the case.

“We just have to do a proper format and design a template for that information relay process,” De Lima said.

The secretary also urged the victims’ family and relatives to strengthen their faith and remain patient in their journey to achieve justice for the 58 people who died in the incident.

Applauding the secretary, incumbent governor Mangudadatu meanwhile reaffirmed his “solid trust” on the secretary’s sincerity.

He also remained confident that judge Jocelyn Santos-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 will deliver justice in handling the massacre case.

“We know Judge Reyes as a judge with very good reputation.

We, too, have trust in her. We just have to be patient. Justice will be served,” De Lima said.