Malacañang on Thursday expressed confidence anew that the suspects in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre will be read their charges before the year ends as they arranged a meeting with the prosecution panel to discuss several issues on the matter.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, who served as the lawyer to some of the victims’ families, said the Palace is currently setting up a meeting with the prosecutors assigned to the case.
“I would like to inform the public that I’m arranging a meeting with the panel prosecutors in the Palace again. I would like to invite the President to join us in our meeting so that the President can be apprised by the prosecution team on what’s happening,” said Roque, who had expressed eagerness to pursue the marching orders of Duterte on the case.
“I have noted that apparently there are some witnesses against Andal Ampatuan Jr. who have retracted their testimonies, but I have been assured by the panel of prosecutors that despite the retraction, the case against Unsay [Ampatuan Jr.] remains strong,” Roque said.
Asked whether the suspects will be sentenced within the year because of criminal charges, Roque expressed confidence on the matter.
“That is the marching orders of the President to the prosecution panel and that’s why I think that their appearance in the Palace is pursuant to the marching order of the President,” he said.
Roque made the remark when asked to comment on a report, which said that there were efforts to convince witnesses to recant their testimonies against Ampatuan.
On Sunday, the Sandiganbayan rejected Ampatuan Jr’s attempt to test the prosecution’s evidence in a graft case.
In a resolution dated September 4, the anti-graft court dismissed Ampatuan’s argument that the prosecution has failed to show he was contriving with his brother, former Maguindanao governor Datu Sajid Ampatuan.
The two Ampatuans are facing graft charges in relation to the alleged 2009 acquisition of fuel and lubricant amounting to P22.37 million.
Three weeks ago, former Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Zaldy Ampatuan, the alleged mastermind of the ‘massacre’ was heavily criticized after a Quezon City court granted him a furlough to attend his daughter’s wedding.
The former ARMM governor currently faces 58 charges of murder for his involvement in the Maguindanao massacre in 2009, which was described as the deadliest attack against journalists in history.
The Palace has yet to announce the date of the meeting with the prosecution team but vowed that justice will be served for the victims.