Mangudadatu on Maguindanao massacre trial: Medyo nabagalan

Maguindanao Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu on Wednesday described as "a bit slow" the justice system for the Maguindanao massacre victims, which included some of his relatives, amid the anticipated promulgation of the case.

After 10 years, the judgment on the multiple murder case is set to be handed down by the Quezon City Jail Annex at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City on Thursday.

“Medyo nababagalan,” said Mangudadatu, who lost his wife and two sisters in the November 2009 massacre, in an interview on Unang Balita.

According to him, the delay was due to the bulk of evidence presented by around 350 witnesses and the change of lawyers of the defense camp which, he said, delayed the trial.

Members of the powerful Ampatuan clan, including former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan and former Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr., are the primary accused in the carnage.

The Ampatuans are the political rival of the Mangudadatus.

Alleged members of their private army were also charged for their alleged conspiracy to kill 58 people, 32 of whom were journalists, on a hill in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao on November 23, 2009.

The wife of Mangungudadatu, accompanied by the other victims, was on her way to file for the candidacy of her husband when the crime happened. At that time, Mangudadatu was challenging an Ampatuan clan member for the governor post in Maguindanao.

Mangudadatu expressed regret over the deaths of the victims because of his candidacy, but he pointed out that democracy should have been upheld.

“Meron [akong bigat na nararamdaman] pero sana hindi nangyari yun. May bigat. Mahirap mag-move on kasi may mga anak kami,” he said.

“Hindi sana nangyari yun. Demokrasya tayo eh, dapat hinayaan na lang [na tumakbo ako]. Hindi naman  ito nakatitulo sa kanila,” he added. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News