MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang was dismayed by a court decision to allow one of the primary defendants in the Maguindanao massacre to attend the wedding of his daughter but expressed confidence that it would not have an effect on the case.
The defendant, former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan, was allowed by a Quezon City court to attend the wedding of his daughter at a hotel on Aug. 21.
The families of the massacre victims have expressed concern on the possible impact of the court’s decision on the charges against the defendants.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines has demanded that prosecutors explain why Ampatuan was given a furlough for his daughter’s wedding. At least 32 of the 58 people killed during the 2009 massacre were journalists.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the furlough would not have an effect on the cases filed against the suspects.
“I don’t think there’s an implication. Officially, the panel of the prosecutors and the President joins them, opposed that motion and we’re dismayed that it was granted. That’s the official stand,” Roque, a former lawyer of some of the victims’ kin, said in a press briefing.
“I can assure you this will not affect the case,” he added.
The massacre, regarded as the worst attack on the press in the Philippines, happened on Nov. 23, 2009. The victims, which included 16 members of the Mangudadatu clan, were supposed to witness the filing of the certificate of candidacy for then Buluan vice mayor Esmael Mangudadatu when they were murdered by armed men in Ampatuan town. The massacre prompted then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to place Maguindanao under martial law.
Last June, President Duterte said he wants a partial judgment on some of the individuals tagged in the massacre.
Previous reports said the wedding of Ampatuan’s daughter had about 60 principal sponsors, including Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, presidential aide Christopher Go, presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza and Davao City Mayor and presidential daughter Sara Duterte.
Medialdea confirmed that he was asked to become a godparent of the couple but had to “graciously excuse” himself from attending the wedding because of a prior engagement.
Go said he did not receive an invitation for the wedding. He said it has been a “usual practice” to place names in invitations even without the knowledge of the one being invited. Dureza said he did not attend the wedding because he was in events held in Davao. Sara said she also was not present during the wedding.