‘Time for Maguindanao massacre victims to get justice’

Go said he is optimistic that someone will be held liable for the crimes. #BongGo #Maguindanaomassacre

Relatives of the Maguindanao massacre victims at the memorial site of the latter on 19 November 2017. (Davao Today)

It’s time for the Maguindanao massacre victims to get justice and for perpetrators of the gruesome crime to be punished, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said Thursday ahead of the promulgation of the judgment for the case.

“Matagal na itong hustisyang hinihingi ng mga Maguindanao massacre victims. Panahon na para maibigay ito sa kanila. Managot ang dapat managot,” Go said in an ambush interview during his visit to leukemia patients at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center in Quezon City

Go lamented the country’s snail paced justice system as the Quezon City Regional Trial Court is set to hand down its ruling on the 10-year-old case on Thursday at the Metro Manila District Jail Annex 2 in Taguig City.

“Ten years ago na po iyon (massacre). Iyan ang prublema sa justice system natin. Bakit kailangan pang maghintay ng 10 years para mabigyan ng hustisya ang mga biktima?” he said.

“Talagang nakakapanghina ang justice system natin. Sobrang tagal. Kailangan pa ba nilang magtiis ng sampung taon? Isipin mo it will take ten years para masentensyahan kung sino ang may sala.”

Go added, “Hindi ko masisisi ang mga Pilipino na tumatakbo sa Pangulo para humingi ng hustisya. Dahil minsan ay nawawalan sila ng pag-asa sa napakabagal na justice system natin sa bansa,” Go said, stressing that justice delayed is justice denied.

Asked on his forecast of the ruling, Go said he is optimistic that someone will be held liable for the crimes.

“Hindi pwedeng walang managot. Kung sino ang may pakana, may plano, dapat managot. Dapat magkaroon ng hustisya lalo na sa mga media people. Meron ding bystanders doon na nadamay lang doon. Walang hiya ang may pakana ng krimen na ito. Dapat panagutan nila at pagdusahan kung sakaling kasama sila sa may sala,” he said.

The Maguindanao massacre occurred on 23 November 2009 in the town of Ampatuan, Maguindanao. A total 58 people, including 32 journalists and media workers, were kidnapped and killed while on their way to file the certificate of candidacy for Esmael Mangudadatu, then vice mayor of Buluan town.

The victims included family members and supporters of Mangudadatu who was to challenge then Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr. for the Maguindanao gubernatorial election the following year.

In previous interviews, Mangudadatu told members of the media that President Duterte was one of the first public officials to provide assistance to the victims of the massacre. The then Davao City mayor also provided the helicopter that led authorities to the site of the carnage.