All eyes turn to a courtroom in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, when Quezon City Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes passes judgment on 101 defendants charged with the massacre of 58 people in Maguindanao more than 10 years ago.
On Nov. 23, 2009, the 58 people—including 32 members of the press—were slaughtered, many of them shot execution-style, and dumped into roadside pits on a hilly portion of Sitio Masalay in the town of Ampatuan, an attack that was also one of the world's worst mass killings of journalists.
The slaughter highlighted all of the country’s deep-seated problems of powerful political dynasties, easy access to guns and official impunity.
Victims' families have endured a trial of 101 defendants marred by allegations of bribery, defense delays, the murder of several witnesses and a fear that the still powerful accused could be acquitted.
A guilty verdict, human rights advocates say, will be a strong signal to the powerful that they can’t always get away with murder.
A not-guilty verdict would be catastrophic for the cause of human rights and justice, and would signal to warlords that it’s business as usual, that they can continue using violence, intimidation and corruption to rule over their communities.
Others say, given the large number of journalists killed, that a not-guilty verdict would also be a serious blow to press freedom.
Leaders of the powerful Ampatuan family, who have lorded it over the province of Maguindanao, are charged with organizing the Nov. 23, 2009 mass killing in a bid to quash an election challenge from a rival clan.
Victims’ families have long worried that the Ampatuans, who continue to wield political power and influence, could avoid convictions. For instance, the Ampatuans—including Sajid Ampatuan, a defendant in the massacre case who was released on bail—won 25 local seats in the May elections.
Ten clan members remain in jail but another is out on bail along with 10 other defendants, while the charges against eight other defendants have been dropped.
Out of the original 197 suspects, 80 remain at large including 15 members of the Ampatuan clan.
Awaiting judgment is prime suspect Datu Andal "Unsay" Ampatuan Jr. His father, the clan patriarch and former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., died in detention, as did a handful of other defendants.
Which way will the verdict go?
Will the 58 who died in the town of Ampatuan finally receive the justice they deserve?
That is of primary importance, of course, but the impact of today’s decision will go far beyond that.
