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Maguindanao Massacre verdict 'restores faith' in justice system: senators

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Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Lawmakers and legal experts on Wednesday lauded Maguindanao massacre presiding Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes for &quot;restoring&quot; the public&#x27;s faith in the Philippine justice system, after convicting members of the once-influential Ampatuan clan for the carnage.Five of the 7 Ampatuan family members who were tagged as masterminds of the Philippines&#x27; worst election-related violence that left 58 people dead were sentenced to reclusion perpetua. Some policemen who acted as the family&#x27;s gunmen were also sentenced to 6 to 10 years in prison.&quot;This decision restores faith in the justice system,&quot; Senator Joel Villanueva said.Former Justice secretary and now Senator Leila de Lima said the decision reminded Filipinos that &quot;warlords have no place in a democracy.&quot;&quot;This day will forever be etched in history as the day justice did not tolerate homicidal and monstrous abuse of power,&quot; she said.The decade-long trial should not be considered as &quot;delayed justice,&quot; Senator Panfilo Lacson said.&quot;Considering the number of respondents involved, not to mention the power and influence of local politics with undeniably strong connections with the national government at least at the time the gruesome ambush-slaying of 58 victims was perpetrated, the judge who conducted the trial deserves high commendation and gratitude from the judiciary and the whole nation as well,&quot; he said.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/19/19/list-qc-courts-verdict-on-maguindanao-massacre-suspects">LIST: QC court&#x27;s verdict on Maguindanao massacre suspects</a></li></ul>The Maguindanao massacre happened in 2009, when the Ampatuan family who were allied with then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ruled the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.The victims were attacked while on a convoy en route to Shariff Aguak town where the certificate of candidacy of Ampatuan political rival and then-gubernatorial candidate Esmael &quot;Toto&quot; Mangudadatu would be filed.The case was first raffled to the sala of Judge Luisito Cortez, who recused from the case after receiving death threats.Solis-Reyes took on the responsibility and refused offers to have 10 police escorts while handling the high-profile carnage.&quot;I am certain that she went through tremendous pressure and threats during the conduct of the trial. I therefore take my hat off to Judge Reyes for her courage and integrity,&quot; Lacson said.&quot;We commend Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes in her steadfast service in bringing justice for our people today,&quot; Senator Richard Gordon said in a separate statement.&quot;Despite the pressure, she remained firm and fair and exercised her duties the best as she could,&quot; he said.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/17/19/the-best-man-for-the-job-is-a-woman-who-is-judge-jocelyn-solis-reyes">&#x27;The best man for the job is a woman&#x27;: Who is Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes?</a></li></ul>Though masterminds have been jailed, the quest for justice for the massacre victims continues as several suspects remain at large and attacks on the media remain, Senator Risa Hontiveros said.&quot;The road to justice ends when we ensure that any similar attack on the free press &amp; our democratic rights never happens again,&quot; she said.&quot;While the penalty may be wanting for some, lets us hope that this will never happen again,&quot; Senator Francis Tolentino said in a separate statement.

MANILA - Lawmakers and legal experts on Wednesday lauded Maguindanao massacre presiding Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes for "restoring" the public's faith in the Philippine justice system, after convicting members of the once-influential Ampatuan clan for the carnage.

MANILA - Lawmakers and legal experts on Wednesday lauded Maguindanao massacre presiding Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes for "restoring" the public's faith in the Philippine justice system, after convicting members of the once-influential Ampatuan clan for the carnage.

Maguindanao Massacre verdict 'restores faith' in justice system: senators

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Maguindanao Massacre verdict 'restores faith' in justice system: senators

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 19, 2019 10:49 PM PHT

Read More:

Maguindanao massacre

Leila de Lima

Joel Villanueva

Richard Gordon

Ping Lacson

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