(Eagle News)–Senator Leila de Lima has backed some media organizations’ calls for a live coverage of the promulgation of the Ampatuan massacre case on Dec. 19.
According to De Lima, who is facing drug-related charges, “as someone who is undergoing an undeserved trial that was initially shut off from the world to watch, I understand the importance of making public every single detail of the verdict of this case, which dragged on with the defense stalling the procedures.”
“Given how the case is now overdue, the public deserves no less than being able to see how this case will pan out,” she said.
She noted that this was “the single, most horrific crime – multiple murder – in modern Philippine history, in terms of the number of victims which include media practitioners and the beastly nature of the killings.”
“We need to remain vigilant as the court proceedings come to a close, 10 years after that gruesome Monday in 2009. The notoriety of this crime is known all over the world, and the world needs to know, in real time, the verdict. Will true and complete justice be served? Or will impunity continue to reign in this country?” she asked.
Quezon City Regional Trial Branch 220 Judge Jocelyn Reyes-Solis set the promulgation at that date after asking the Supreme Court for an extension on the period within which the verdict should have been promulgated.
The promulgation was supposed to be set on Nov. 22 but Reyes-Solis asked for an extension of 30 days, or until December 22.
Charged for the crime in 2009 are some prominent members of the Ampatuan clan, political rival of the Mangudadatu family.
Over 50 people–including 38 journalists and some members of the Mangudadatu family–were killed.