Noy urged to give justice to massacre victims

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino should fulfill his promise to give justice to the victims of the Maguindanao massacre.

The relatives of the victims reiterated this call on the fourth anniversary of the carnage that left 58 people dead, including 31 journalists.

“We are calling on our President to fulfill his promise to us. Before he was elected, he told us that he will help us with our case,” said Zenaida Duhay, wife of Jhoy Duhay of Goldstar Daily.

She expressed disappointment with the slow pace of the trial, noting that only around 20 percent had been accomplished after four years.

“P-Noy promised that once he is elected president of the Republic of the Philippines, he will not turn his back on our case. (He said) he will help us, he will ensure that we will have justice before he steps down,” Noemi Parcon, wife of Joel Parcon of Prontiera News said.

She said the trial could take 16 to 20 years, given its current pace.

“It was so hard for me and my sister because we lost both our parents,” Marie Charmaine Lechonsito, one of the daughters of the couple who died in the incident, said during a press conference at the UP College of Mass Communication. “Hopefully, (we can get) the justice that P-Noy keeps on saying,” she said.

The Lechonsito couple – Eduardo and Cecille – was not in the convoy that was allegedly targeted by the perpetrators of the crime, but was traveling along the same highway.

Based on the complaint filed by the victims at the United Nations, the couple and three other victims were on their way to a hospital in Cotabato City since Eduardo suffered a mild stroke.

The relatives of the victims sent a letter to three UN Special Rapporteurs yesterday for them to intervene and investigate judicial killings of journalists in the country.

On Friday, the families also sued the government before the UN Human Rights Committee for its failure to provide effective remedy and reparations to the victims.

The petitioners said all possible domestic remedies have been exhausted but there has been no conviction and reparation for the families of the victims four years after the massacre.

‘Not 50 percent complete’

University of the Philippines (UP) professor Harry Roque, who serves as legal counsel of some of the victims, disputed the statement of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes that the trial is almost 50 percent over.

“The problem is that (she was referring only) to those who are detained. What about those who have yet to be arrested? Why say 50 percent when the process for almost half of the accused has not even started?” he said.

Court records show that 89 suspects, including 15 surnamed Ampatuans, are still at large. A total of 197 people were initially charged for the massacre.

“If we accept that the case is almost 50 percent over, it would mean that we will forget about those who are still at large,” said Roque.

Malacañang for its part, said it could not pressure the courts regarding the pace of the trial but reiterated its assurance that the government would avoid delays.

Asked to comment on the statement of Solis that she is eyeing a verdict in 2016, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Palace respects the court and shares the hope of the public for the immediate resolution of the case. – With Aurea Calica, Rhodina Villanueva, John Unson, Gerry Lee Gorit