Maguindanao massacre case judge lauded for 'tremendous' effort

The spokesperson for the Supreme Court on Thursday lauded Quezon City Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes for the "tremendous" work she has exerted in hearing the two-year-old Maguindanao massacre case.   At a press briefing, SC spokesperson Ma. Victoria Gleoresty Guerra announced the status of the murder case against former Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr, his two brothers, and their father Andal Sr., clan patriarch of the influential Ampatuan clan of Maguindanao.   "Our judge has already exerted a tremendous amount of effort and work and knows it is her duty to continue doing so," said Guerra, reading from a statement.   Considered the worst single-day, election-related violence in Philippine history, the Maguindanao massacre left 58 people dead, 32 of them journalists. The victims were headed for Shariff Aguak for the filing of the certificate of candidacy of then-Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu. At the time, he was challenging the Ampatuan clan for the gubernatorial post.   Three years after the case, only two Ampatuan members — Andal Jr. and Andal Sr. — have been arraigned. The Philippine National Police has so far arrested 103 suspects, while 93 remain at large.   SC records showed that of the 103 arrested, only 81 have so far been arraigned.   "Considering the unique and unprecedented nature of these cases and the volume of the work still to be done, the speedy disposition of these cases depends on the cooperation of all the parties and actors involved," Guerra pointed out.   The multiple murder case was raffled to Solis-Reyes on December 17, 2009. Hearings started on January 5, 2010. To date, there have been 264 hearings.   Handling the case for the prosecution are 35 lawyers—21 public and 14 private. On the defense camp, 54 lawyers are on board. A total of 57 accused have applied for bail.   In the three years that the prosecution has been presenting evidence, it has so far sent 101 witnesses to the stand.   Excluding oral motions, 307 motions and other matters have been filed or raised, of which 204 have been resolved. Almost two-thirds or 204 of them have already been resolved.   Also, 447 comments, oppositions, rejoinders, sur-rejoinders, and manifestations have been filed as a result of the 307 motions.   Guerra said records of the case have reached 48 volumes.   The world commemorates the third anniversary of the grisly killings on Friday. — Mark D. Merueñas/KBK, GMA News