By Rey Panaligan
Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said on Thursday the acquittal of some of the accused in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre “is something the prosecution has more or less anticipated.”
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra
(TOTO LOZANO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a statement issued after the promulgation of the decision by Quezon city regional trial court (RTC) Judge Jocelyn Solis Reyes, Guevarra said:
“Today is the day we have waited and I am very happy as secretary of justice that finally justice has been served. We, of course, know that the principal accused here has been convicted but some of the accused have been acquitted. This is something that the prosecution has more or less anticipated.
“We know from the beginning where our strength lies and where certain gaps in our evidence exist so this is something more or less expected.
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“We're happy with the decision of the court. We trust that the judge has very extensively examined the evidence and we trust in her impartiality in her rendition of this very important judgment.
“I thank the prosecutors as well as the private prosecutors who are involved in this case for the tireless effort that they exerted in making sure that judgment will finally come and the deaths of so many victims including members of the journalism profession will find their day of redemption.
“So again congratulations to the prosecution and we are very happy that today we have seen that justice has been served.”
Read more: LIST: Names of convicted and acquitted in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre case