Authorities vow aggressive manhunt for Maguindanao massacre fugitives

Presidential Task Force on Media Security Executive Director Joel Egco said on Friday that they would aggressively pursue the 80 fugitives who were among those convicted in the Maguindanao Massacre case.

"Yan na yung next phase natin- to run after, to track down 'yang mga yan sa pamamagitan ng mas agresibong paghahanap sa kanila at sa pagkakalat ng mga poster ng updated list sa mga at large pa na suspect," said Egco in Jun Veneracion's report on "24 Oras."

The Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed that they would do everything within their power to capture the 80 runaways, 12 of whom were former police officers, but they admitted that it would be no easy task.

"Naroon 'yung possibility na may mga nagkakanlong sa kanila at nahihirapan tayo kumuha ng impormasyon. Hindi natin matukoy saan or sino talaga or nasaan sila," said PNP Spokesman Bernard Banac.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also promised to assist in the manhunt.

"Handa tayong tumulong at ipagkaloob ang resources na meron ang ating Armed Forces upang sa ganoon eh mabigyang tuldok na itong problemang ito," said AFP Spokesman Edgard Arevalo.

Of the 60 policemen who were accused in the bloodiest political killing in Southeast Asia, 36 were absolved.

Seventeen of the absolved policemen were on automatic leave without pay and were now required to immediately return to work without back wages.

Nineteen others were meanwhile required to file for a motion for reconsideration because they were removed from service before the promulgation.

"Those earlier dismissed from the service but were eventually acquited of the crime require a different set of procedures to be reinstated in the service. Their acquittal does not necessarily translate to reinstatement," explained Banac.

The 2009 Maguindanao Massacre was the single, most violent attack on journalists.

On Thursday, several members of the Ampatuan clan were convicted of 57 counts of murder.

Among the convicted clan members were former Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan, Anwar Ampatuan Sr., Anwar "Ipi" Ampatuan Jr., and Anwar Sajid "Ulo" Ampatuan.

Along with the convicted clan members, several police officers and other personalities were also sentenced to reclusion perpetua, or up to 40 years of imprisonment, without parole. — Angelica Y. Yang/DVM, GMA News