Push Admin

Palace, CHR, hope for justice for Maguindanao massacre victims

Article (news)

Arianne Merez and Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Malacañang and the Commission on Human Rights on Tuesday expressed hopes that families of the victims of the 2009 Maguindanao massacre will finally get justice as the court is set to hand down its ruling on the worst election-related violence in Philippine history and the single deadliest attack against journalists in the world.“The court will decide on the basis of evidence and we hope that justice will be given to the parties especially the prosecution,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo told reporters on Tuesday.“Regardless of whose administration, justice should always prevail,” he added.The ruling is expected to be handed down on the morning of Thursday, Dec. 19, at the Metro Manila District Jail Annex 2, a facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, where some of the accused are held. Several members of the powerful Ampatuan clan of Maguindanao are charged with organizing the Nov. 23, 2009 mass murder that left 58 people dead, including 32 journalists, in a bid to stop an election rival from challenging their stronghold on the province.Panelo, who briefly served as defense lawyer of prime suspect Datu Andal &quot;Unsay&quot; Ampatuan Jr. in 2014, said he could not attend the promulgation of the ruling due to conflict in his schedule.Aside from Ampatuan Jr., 100 others out of the 197 accused are awaiting sentence following a decade-long trial on multiple murder charges. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/11/22/19/a-decade-of-wait-where-are-key-personalities-in-the-maguindanao-massacre-now">A decade of wait: Where are key personalities in the Maguindanao massacre now?</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/12/14/19/maguindanao-massacre-victims-counsel-confident-to-receive-favorable-ruling">Maguindanao massacre victims&#x27; counsel confident to receive favorable ruling</a></li></ul>CHR spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said the agency has been longing for justice for the massacre victims. The CHR, then under chairperson Leila de Lima, was one of the agencies that responded through fact-finding investigations immediately after the incident on November 23, 2009.”Umaasa tayo na sa Thursday, talaga naman ito na ang senyales na makakamit na finally ng mga biktima ang hustisya na matagal na nilang inaasam,” de Guia said.(We are hoping that on Thursday, this will be the sign that the victims will finally get the justice their families have long been waiting for.)The CHR, meanwhile, lamented that 10 years after the killings, journalists are still under threat from various fronts.“Nakakalungkot kasi (It&#x27;s sad because) the Maguindanao massacre really was the pivotal event where we saw that our journalists underwent tremendous pain and suffering, it cost them their lives and then years after, they still continue to bear the brunt of that attack and in fact it contributed to the climate of impunity,” de Guia said.

Malacañang is hopeful that families of the victims of the decade-old Maguindanao massacre will finally attain justice as the court is set to hand down its ruling on the worst election-related violence in recent Philippine history and the single deadliest attack against journalists in the world.

Malacañang is hopeful that families of the victims of the decade-old Maguindanao massacre will finally attain justice as the court is set to hand down its ruling on the worst election-related violence in recent Philippine history and the single deadliest attack against journalists in the world.

Palace, CHR, hope for justice for Maguindanao massacre victims

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

Palace, CHR, hope for justice for Maguindanao massacre victims

Arianne Merez and Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 17, 2019 03:51 PM PHT

|

Updated Dec 17, 2019 05:04 PM PHT

Read More:

Malacañang

Maguindanao Massacre

Salvador Panelo

Ampatuan

verdict

Camp Bagong Diwa

justice

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.