Andanar optimistic families of Maguindanao massacre will have a better Christmas
Published Nov 9, 2019 11:39 am
By Argyll Cyrus Geducos
Communications Secretary Martin Andanar expressed optimism that families of the victims of the deadly Maguindanao Massacre will have a better Christmas this year as they look forward to a decision on the case before the year ends.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar
(ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Andanar made the statement after the Supreme Court (SC) extended the deadline for the ruling on the cases against Datu Andal “Unsay” Ampatuan Jr. and almost 200 others tagged in the massacre of 58 people in Maguindanao province almost a decade ago. In a statement, Andanar commended those who worked hard in bringing closure to what is known as the worst case of election-related violence, saying justice will finally prevail. "We expect that justice will ultimately prevail for the victims and their families," he said. "We cannot help but be amazed at the dedication of the men and women of the law enforcement units, prosecutors, and most especially, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), whose passion for their work is exceeded only by their desire to see this case through its conclusion," he added. The former broadcaster said the upcoming verdict can be chalked up under the tally of President Duterte's legacy. "This is another addition to President Duterte’s legacy, that one of the most despicable acts against journalists in the history of the world will finally come to a close during his term," Andanar noted. The Ampatuan Massacre is widely regarded as the deadliest single-day attack on journalists in the world. Of the 58 people who were killed, 32 were journalists who joined the convoy of then-Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu, who had sent his wife and supporters to file his candidacy for governor against Andal Ampatuan Jr. Justice Secretary and PTFoMS Chair Menardo Guevarra was quoted as saying that he was confident that the prosecution would secure "a just decision at least as against the principal accused." Meanwhile, the PTFoMS also noted with optimism the 30-day extension granted by the SC to Branch 221 Presiding Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC), with respect to the promulgation of its Decision on "People vs. Datu Andal Ampatuan, Jr. alias ‘Unsay’, et. al". In a letter dated October 28, 2019, Solis-Reyes asked the Supreme Court for a 30-day extension from its due date on November 20, 2019, citing the voluminous records amounting to 165 volumes of records of proceedings, 65 volumes of transcripts of stenographic notes (TSN), and eight volumes of the prosecution's documentary evidence. In a Memorandum dated November 7, 2019, and signed by Supreme Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez, the Court found the grounds cited as reasonable and granted Judge Solis-Reyes a non-extendible 30 days. In a statement, PTFoMS executive director Undersecretary Joel Egco said the month-long extension was worth the wait. "It is worth the wait. What is one month compared to ten years? Lower courts usually go on Christmas break in mid-December. So the Decision may be out by December 14,” Egco said. “Without pre-empting the outcome, I am optimistic that the families of the victims will finally get the justice that they have been waiting for the last decade,” added Egco. Egco also credited the verdict to the determination of the Duterte administration to pursue the case. “It took the political will of a Duterte Administration to finally see this through its logical conclusion. This will be a part of #DuterteLegacy," he said.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar(ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Andanar made the statement after the Supreme Court (SC) extended the deadline for the ruling on the cases against Datu Andal “Unsay” Ampatuan Jr. and almost 200 others tagged in the massacre of 58 people in Maguindanao province almost a decade ago. In a statement, Andanar commended those who worked hard in bringing closure to what is known as the worst case of election-related violence, saying justice will finally prevail. "We expect that justice will ultimately prevail for the victims and their families," he said. "We cannot help but be amazed at the dedication of the men and women of the law enforcement units, prosecutors, and most especially, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), whose passion for their work is exceeded only by their desire to see this case through its conclusion," he added. The former broadcaster said the upcoming verdict can be chalked up under the tally of President Duterte's legacy. "This is another addition to President Duterte’s legacy, that one of the most despicable acts against journalists in the history of the world will finally come to a close during his term," Andanar noted. The Ampatuan Massacre is widely regarded as the deadliest single-day attack on journalists in the world. Of the 58 people who were killed, 32 were journalists who joined the convoy of then-Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu, who had sent his wife and supporters to file his candidacy for governor against Andal Ampatuan Jr. Justice Secretary and PTFoMS Chair Menardo Guevarra was quoted as saying that he was confident that the prosecution would secure "a just decision at least as against the principal accused." Meanwhile, the PTFoMS also noted with optimism the 30-day extension granted by the SC to Branch 221 Presiding Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC), with respect to the promulgation of its Decision on "People vs. Datu Andal Ampatuan, Jr. alias ‘Unsay’, et. al". In a letter dated October 28, 2019, Solis-Reyes asked the Supreme Court for a 30-day extension from its due date on November 20, 2019, citing the voluminous records amounting to 165 volumes of records of proceedings, 65 volumes of transcripts of stenographic notes (TSN), and eight volumes of the prosecution's documentary evidence. In a Memorandum dated November 7, 2019, and signed by Supreme Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez, the Court found the grounds cited as reasonable and granted Judge Solis-Reyes a non-extendible 30 days. In a statement, PTFoMS executive director Undersecretary Joel Egco said the month-long extension was worth the wait. "It is worth the wait. What is one month compared to ten years? Lower courts usually go on Christmas break in mid-December. So the Decision may be out by December 14,” Egco said. “Without pre-empting the outcome, I am optimistic that the families of the victims will finally get the justice that they have been waiting for the last decade,” added Egco. Egco also credited the verdict to the determination of the Duterte administration to pursue the case. “It took the political will of a Duterte Administration to finally see this through its logical conclusion. This will be a part of #DuterteLegacy," he said.