Today, Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes, presiding judge of Branch 221 of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City, will promulgate the ruling on the Maguindanao Massacre case, after nearly 10 years of trial.
The so-called “trial of the decade” called the attention of press organizations in the Philippines and of international media groups. The killings that occurred on Nov. 23, 2009 were described as the “deadliest strike against the press in history.”
The massacre saw 58 people slain”•32 of them media workers”•and underscored the dangers to journalists in the Philippines, as advocates for press freedom and justice have focused on the months and years of trial.
READ: Massacre case up for Dec. 19 ruling
Judge Solis-Reyes submitted the case for decision on Aug. 22 and was thus required by a Supreme Court circular to issue her verdict 90 days later, in November.
But citing the “voluminous records” of the case, she requested an extension of 30 days, which the High Court has granted. The promulgation of the decision is expected on or before Dec. 20, Friday.
Case Timeline
Nov. 23, 2009—58 persons are killed in Ampatuan, Maguindanao. The victims included 32 journalists and media workers, two lawyers, six motorists passing the same route, and the wife and sisters of Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, at that time the vice mayor of Buluan town in Maguindanao.
Jan. 5, 2010—Hearings begin. Identifying so many suspects took time; some could not be found. By early 2013, only 81 of the 98 arrested suspects had been arraigned.
READ: Prosecutor got death threats after rejecting P300-million bribe
June 2010—A potential witness, Suwahid Upham, is killed. Upham had admitted in an interview that he was one of those who killed the victims and that it was Datu Unsay himself who shot Genalyn Mangudadatu, the wife of Esmael “Toto” Mangudadtu.
December 2013—To speed up the trial, Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno issues new guidelines, naming an “Assisting Judge” to QC RTC Branch 221 who could take over some of the work in the trial.
2014—The Fortun Narvaza & Salazar Law Office, which represented several members of the Ampatuan family, withdraws as counsel for the accused.
July 17, 2015—Andal Ampatuan Sr. dies of a heart attack while in detention.
May 30, 2017—Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes denies Datu Unsay Ampatuan’s petition for bail, seven years after the trial began.
READ: Ampatuan killings: 80 suspects at large
August 2019—Lawyer Paul Laguatan, then counsel of Datu Unsay, asks for the reopening of the trial, which the court promptly denied, as defense lawyers were due to submit a memorandum summing up their arguments.
Aug. 22, 2019—Judge Solis-Reyes submits the case for decision, and was thus required by a Supreme Court circular to issue her verdict 90 days later in November. But citing the “voluminous records” of the case, she requested an extension of 30 days, which the Supreme Court has granted.
December 20, 2019—The date, on or before when the promulgation of the decision is expected.
Quotes on the case
“Wala na ang utak, ang isang mata, ang kabila ng mukha. Sabog ang ulo. Wasak ang left arm.”
“• Myna Reblando, describing the cadaver of her husband, Bong.
“Patay na patay…Suot n’ya ’yung polo shirt na gift ko, naka-jacket. Wala nang bibig dahil doon lumabas ang bala, luwa ang kaliwang mata, wala na ang buhok.”
READ: Mangudadatu: Court in favor of victims despite slow justice
“• Noemi Parcon, describing the cadaver of her husband Joel.
“That is easy, father. Kill them all if they come here.”
“• Lakmudin Saliao, in his testimony in Sept. 2010, quoting then Datu Unsay town Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. as having said in response to the question of his father, the late Andal Sr., as to what they should do to stop his rival from filing his candidacy for governor:
“The reason I came out is to prove that I am not hiding and that I am not guilty.”
“• Andal Ampatuan Jr., during the inquest held at the airport in General Santos City on Nov. 26, 2009.
“In my mind, talagang may solid verdict na guilty sila. Sigurado kami na may conviction ‘yan.” “• Maguindanao Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu, who lost his wife, sisters, an aunt and a cousin in the massacre, days before the promulgation.
“We expect nothing less than a conviction especially those directly responsible and involved in the killings. Otherwise, the mockery of justice and the culture of impunity will continue to reign and worsen.” “• National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, in a statement.
