7 convicted for Davao night market bombing

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Seven persons have been sentenced to life imprisonment for multiple murder and multiple attempted murder in connection with the bombing at the Roxas night market in this city on Sept. 2, 2016.

TJ Macabalang, Wendel Facturan, Musali Mustapha, Jessy Vincent Original, Zack Lopez, Jackson Usi and Ausa Abdullah Mamasapano were sentenced to life in prison and ordered to pay damages to the families of the five fatalities and 69 wounded in the blast.

In a ruling issued on Monday, a regional trial court in Taguig acquitted the accused of terrorism under Republic Act 9372 or the Human Security Act, saying the prosecution failed to establish that the blast was meant to coerce the government to give in to an unlawful demand.

Acting City Mayor Sebastian Duterte said the city government welcomes the conviction of the accused.

Duterte said the ruling “underscores the delivery of justice for the fatalities of the bomb attack, the survivors, their loved ones, the entire city of Davao and all Dabawenyos who endured the impact of the terrorist attack.”

“Day in and day out, these families are constantly reminded of the horror brought by the bomb explosion,” the acting mayor said.

He said the perpetrators could have been convicted of terrorism if only the Philippines has a good Anti-Terror Law.

“We believe that the decision underlines the urgency to enforce strong laws against people and groups that espouse terrorism,” Duterte said.