The Department of Justice (DoJ) is speeding up process to resolve the seven separate motions for reconsideration (MRs) which asked the department to reverse its February 5 resolution approving the criminal indictment of 197 more persons for the November 23, 2009 Maguindanao massacre since the trial has already started.

Senior State Prosecutors Leo Dacera and Rosanne Balauag said the panel is trying to resolve the MRs the soonest time so the trial of the case against 197 persons, including the patriarch of the influential Ampatuan clan, for the November 23, 2009 Maguindanao massacre that left 57 people dead, since the trial has already started.

The trial was temporarily suspended by Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 211. The court wants to proceed the trial soonest.

In separate motions for reconsideration, two known Ampatuans and three other accused in the case to ask to reconsider the February 5, 2010 resolution of the DoJ panel led by Senior State Prosecutors Leo Dacera and Rosanne Balauag.

The accused also questioned the findings of the prosecution panel, showing a “confluence of events before and immediately after” the massacre showing that the Ampatuans connived with the killers even if they were not in the site.

Acting Maguindanao Gov. Sajid Islam Ampatuan and Saudi Ampatuan town Mayor Saudi Ampatuan Jr. reiterated their defenses that they were not involved in the planning and could not be tagged in the massacre since they were not present in the site.

Respondent Sajid Islam proffered independently relevant and corroborative affidavits confirming the fact that he was with his wife Bai Zandria at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office of the municipality of shariff Saydona Mustapha on November 23, 2009 from 8:23 a.m. to 12 noon,” the pleading stated.