By Genalyn Kabiling
The country's justice system may be slow but the government is still optimistic that justice will prevail in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre case, Malacañang said Thursday.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo
(OPS / MANILA BULLETIN) Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Department of Justice (DOJ) was doing its best to hasten the prosecution of the persons behind the gruesome massacre. "We’re not surprised that the wheels of justice in this country grind so slow. Many cases take so long but what is important to us is justice will prevail – rule of law will have to be observed regardless of who are the persons are involved in any particular case," Panelo said during a Palace press briefing. "The DOJ is the one responsible for prosecuting the case and so it is doing its job, its level best to speed up the prosecution of the case," he added. The Quezon City regional trial court has reportedly concluded the murder trial of the Maguindanao massacre suspects and is expected to rule on the case soon. At least 58 people including 32 media workers were killed during an attack by gunmen allegedly allied with the Ampatuan clan on November 23, 2009. The victims were on the way to accompany then gubernatorial candidate Toto Mangudadatu in filing his candidacy in the 2010 polls. President Duterte met with the families of the Maguindanao massacre victims in November 2017 and promised to help bring the culprits to justice. The Palace earlier said it was hoping the court would issue a partial ruling at least on some of the pending cases.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo(OPS / MANILA BULLETIN) Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Department of Justice (DOJ) was doing its best to hasten the prosecution of the persons behind the gruesome massacre. "We’re not surprised that the wheels of justice in this country grind so slow. Many cases take so long but what is important to us is justice will prevail – rule of law will have to be observed regardless of who are the persons are involved in any particular case," Panelo said during a Palace press briefing. "The DOJ is the one responsible for prosecuting the case and so it is doing its job, its level best to speed up the prosecution of the case," he added. The Quezon City regional trial court has reportedly concluded the murder trial of the Maguindanao massacre suspects and is expected to rule on the case soon. At least 58 people including 32 media workers were killed during an attack by gunmen allegedly allied with the Ampatuan clan on November 23, 2009. The victims were on the way to accompany then gubernatorial candidate Toto Mangudadatu in filing his candidacy in the 2010 polls. President Duterte met with the families of the Maguindanao massacre victims in November 2017 and promised to help bring the culprits to justice. The Palace earlier said it was hoping the court would issue a partial ruling at least on some of the pending cases.