A private prosecutor in the Maguindanao massacre case on Tuesday said she was bribed to stay away from the case in exchange for P300 million.
READ: Verdict due on Ampatuans
In an interview over ANC’s “Headstart,” lawyer Nena Santos said she was offered P300 million for her not to handle the multiple counts of murder filed against the Ampatuan clan “about a year after” the massacre on Nov. 23, 2009.
When she rejected the offer, she said she started to get death threats.
She said even the kin of those who died were also offered money to retract their statements and withdraw the charges.
Santos said the Ampatuans were also involved in other killings in Maguindanao, but these deaths remained not reported and charges were not filed for fear.
She said the Ampatuans, the principal suspects in the deaths of 58 people, including 32 journalists, had too much power and thought they could control the police, military, and even politicians forever.
Ten years after the Maguindanao massacre, Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Jocelyn Reyes is set to resolve the case and issue promulgation of judgment tomorrow (Dec. 19) at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility at Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City.
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