Killing of Maguindanao massacre witness may have ‘adverse impact’ on the trial – media group

The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines on Thursday expressed concern over the killing of another potential witness in the Maguindanao massacre case, saying the incident may have an adverse impact in the trial. 

 

"Whatever the motives, this latest attack on potential witnesses is a setback that will clearly have an adverse impact on the trial," it said in a statement.

"We demand that government immediately ensure the safety of everyone involved in the trial in the interests of truth and justice," the group added.

The NUJP's statement came following the Tuesday killing of Dennis Sakal, alleged former driver of principal massacre suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr.  

 

The group said Sakal's death brought the number of potential witnesses who have been killed since the start of the legal process to four. It added that this number does not include the killing of three relatives of other potential witnesses.

 

The incident happened less than a week before the commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the massacre that killed 58 people, including 32 journalists, in the bloodiest election-related violence in Philippine history.

 

Sakal would have turned witness in the trial against the Ampatuan clan if he was able to sign an affidavit about his Andal Jr.'s involvement in the crime.

 

Butch Saudagal, an alleged former bagman of Andal Jr., was severely injured in the ambush and is said to be in an undisclosed hospital for treatment.

 

Investigation showed the two were in a "payong-payong" tricycle when armed men fired at them in the a remote village of Bagong in Shariff Aguak around 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday.

 

"It has been five long years without justice and more incidents such as this latest attack can only bode ill for speeding up closure to this bloody page in the history of our country and of journalism," NUJP said.

On Wednesday, Malacañang condemned the killing.

"It does not help the case and also it does not help the morale of the other witnesses," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

Also on Wednesday, the National Press Club accused the government of being lax in ensuring the safety of the witnesses.