FOLLOWING the guilty verdict of brothers Andal Jr. “Datu Unsay”, Zaldy and Anwar Ampatuan Sr. as well as five other members of the powerful Ampatuan clan, the National Union of the Philippines (NUJP) Baguio chapter welcomed the decision handed by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis Reyes Thursday, December 19.
The Ampatuan clan members were found guilty of 57 counts of murder in relation to the 2009 Maguindanao massacre and sentenced to reclusion perpetua (life sentence) without bail or parole.
“We welcome the conviction of the key Ampatuan clan members involved in the worst election related violence in the country that murdered 58 people, 32 of them our colleagues,” the NUJP statement said.
The NUJP chapter added after 10 long years of unwavering courage and commitment of families, friends and colleagues of the victims, it finally happened.
“Standing their ground amid threats and harassment is truly commendable. But then, this is just partial justice because many of the accused were acquitted while 80 more accused remain at large,” the statement adds.
NUJP added justice will only be fully served when all of those involved and responsible are brought to the bar of justice.
“Impunity continues to reign that emboldens perpetrators and masterminds of gruesome attacks against journalists and the people knowing that they can escape unscathed. And so our fight continues. Let us continue to defend our right to a free press, free speech and expression, and a just society.”
Two members of the powerful Ampatuan clan, Akmad Sr. and Sajid Islam, were acquitted. More than 10 out of the 31 police officers accused of the crime were also acquitted.
READ: 3 Ampatuan brothers, others guilty of Maguindanao massacre
Only the dispositive portion of the 761-page ruling was read in court at about 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Decemeber 19, after a delay of more than two hours. Lawyers representing the Ampatuan brothers separately said they will file an appeal within 15 days.
Six others, with surname Ampatuan, were also found guilty and sentenced to reclusion perpetua. They are Datu Anwar Sajid “Datu Ulo” Ampatuan, Datu Anwar “Datu Ipi” Ampatuan Jr., Datu Anwar Ampatuan Sr., Manny Ampatuan, Mohades Ampatuan and Misuari Ampatuan.
The Ampatuan patriarch, Andal Sr., and seven others died while in detention.
Zaldy, a former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (now Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), returned to jail only on Wednesday, December 18, after a 44-day hospital confinement for a heart disease. (SunStar Baguio with a report from SunStar Philippines)