Palace: Expediting Ampatuan massacre trial already beyond executive’s powers

After getting a “bad” survey rating in resolving the Ampatuan massacre case, Malacañang on Tuesday said it already exhausted all means to fast-track judicial proceedings on this case.

 

At a press briefing, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the public should understand that expediting the massacre trial was already beyond the executive’s powers.

 

“Unawain lang po natin ang kaayusan hinggil dito. Ang kaso ay nasa kamay ng Regional Trial Court of Quezon City. Ang kaso ay nililitis ng hudikatura,” Coloma told reporters.

 

“Nauunawaan namin na kapag ito ay tinatanong sa ating mga kababayan sa mga survey, baka hindi na ganoon kapino ‘yung kanilang paghimay na kung ano-ano ang sangay ng pamahalaan dahil ang namamayani sa kanila ay ‘yung pagnanasa na masaksihan ang pagtatagumpay o ang paggawad ng katarungan,” he added.

 

Earlier in the day, results of Social Weather Stations (SWS) poll conducted last month showed that the Aquino administration got a “bad” —41 rating in resolving the Ampatuan massacre case.

 

The Ampatuan massacre claimed the lives of 58 people, including 32 journalists in November 2009. It is considered as the worst election-related violence in the Philippines. 

 

At least 198 people, including primary suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr., are currently being tried by a Quezon City court for multiple murder charges in relation to the massacre.

 

In 2011, President Benigno Aquino III assured relatives of massacre victims that he will "do everything humanly possible" to bring those behind the killings to justice during his term. 

 

Coloma said Aquino’s commitment to the families of the massacre victims still stands.

 

“Kaisa kami ng sambayanan sa pagnanasa na mapairal ang katarungan sa kasong ito at siguro naman sa daloy ng panahon magiging matingkad ‘yung public opinion hinggil dito at pupukaw din ito sa damdamin ng mga indibidwal na mayroong mas tuwirang partisipasyon sa paggawad ng desisyon,” the Palace official said. — RSJ, GMA News