Roque on Sajid Islam Ampatuan: I'm sure karma will run after him

Lawyer Harry Roque, one of the prosecutors in the Maguindanao massacre case, on Friday lamented the acquittal of Sajid Islam Ampatuan, one of the principal accused in the high profile case.

Interviewed on ANC, Roque noted that Sajid, who was out on bail, did not even bother to show up during the promulgation of the verdict on Thursday.

"The temerity of the guy. Talagang mayabang eh. He was certain he could get away with it," he said.

"But I'm sure karma will run after him."

Roque represented some of the families of the victims in the massacre.

Sajid and his brothers, Andal Ampatuan Jr., Zaldy and Anwar Sr., were accused of masterminding the killing of 58 people, including 32 journalists and members of their rival clan, in November 23, 2009.

Andal Jr., Zaldy and Anwar Sr., along with several others, were judged guilty for 57 counts of murder by a Quezon City court. They were sentenced to reclusion perpetua without parole.

The Ampatuan clan's patriarch, Andal Sr., was also linked to the massacre but died of liver cancer while detained in 2015.

Roque also said he was not surprised that Sajid was acquitted, noting the fact that he was allowed to post bail by the court.

Sajid was reportedly present during the dinner meeting where the Ampatuans hatched the plan to massacre the victims, who were that time on their way to file the candidacy of Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu for governor, challenging the Ampatuans' rule in the province. —KBK, GMA News