Tight security thrown on Maguindanao suspects

Details of the security dragnet are deemed confidential.

KALIBO, Aklan — The national government has tightened security on the Maguindanao Massacre suspects following the anticipated promulgation of the case on 19 December.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Undersecretary Jose Joel Sy Egco, executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security said Thursday that for the past ten years while the case is still being heard in court.

Ecgo was here as speaker for the National Press Congress of the Publishers Association of the Philippines Incorporated (PAPI). The event was held at the Governor Corazon Cabagnot Memorial Tourism and Training Center in Barangay Old Buswang, Kalibo.

“In the past, some of the suspects have tried to escape, attempted bribing officials of the National Bilibid Prison. They also tried bribing our witnesses,” he said.

Details of the security dragnet are deemed confidential.

Egco said that there are 188 total accused in the said case, four were granted with demurer to evidence, five became state witness, 97 were detained, 11 is out on bail, five have died already and 80 more are still at large.

Earlier, a Quezon City Regional Trial Court has announced that it will hand down the decision on the said case by 19 December.

Egco has asked the Department of Justice for the live coverage of the promulgation.

“I believe some of the suspects will be considered as guilty. If this happens, this would have an impact on the press freedom of the country. We hope that our current ratings would be improved once the killings of some 32 journalists in this case would be given justice,” he added.

Early this year, the Philippines slipped one spot lower in the 2019 World Press Freedom Index/From 133rd place last year, the Philippines is now ranked 134th out of 180 countries in 2019, according to the report released by media watchdog Reporters Without Borders. The country scored 43.91 points.