MANILA, Philippines?Relatives of 57 people killed in the Philippines' worst political massacre said Wednesday their hopes of seeing justice done were greater under new President Benigno Aquino III.

"Now, despite all that happened, I am thankful to Aquino because the case is moving forward even slightly. Maybe now we can get justice," said Catherine Nunez, whose journalist son, Victor, was one of the victims.

A total of 196 people have been charged over the massacre in the southern province of Maguindanao last year, which was allegedly orchestrated by a powerful political clan to stop a rival from challenging them in elections.

Six members of the Ampatuan clan are among those charged with murder.

The Ampatuans had ruled Maguindanao for nearly a decade with the strong support of then-president Gloria Arroyo, who allowed them to run their own private army to serve as a proxy force against Muslim rebels.

Although Arroyo severed her alliance with the Ampatuans following the massacre, relatives of the victims and their lawyers believed Arroyo had continued to protect them until her term as president ended on June 30.

Under Arroyo, the trial of the Ampatuans and their allies had been delayed since April, a potential witness was shot dead and charges were dropped against two clan members only to be reinstated after a public outcry.

"I am praying that under the administration of President Aquino, justice will come faster for the innocent," said Esmael Mangudadatu, the chief rival of the Ampatuans who lost his wife and several relatives in the massacre.

Harry Roque, a lawyer representing some of the victims' relatives, expressed stronger sentiments.

"I didn't trust the (former) president," Roque said.

"(Because of Aquino) we have regained our confidence that the fight will be fair and the victims will finally get justice."

Roque and the relatives were speaking outside a Manila court after the 57th murder charge was filed against the Ampatuans.

Press reports said that the charge for the murder of Victor Nunez was delayed because of difficulty in identifying his body.