MANILA, Philippines – Department of Justice officials handling the investigation of the Maguindanao massacre on Sunday said they have yet to receive evidence of an audio recorder that could have taped the gruesome carnage last week.

“It would be a big help if there is such a recording,” the DOJ source said in a telephone interview.

A ranking official of the National Bureau of Investigation, on the other hand, said NBI agents on the field in Mindnao had not reported information on an audio recorder that was reportedly kept in one of the socks of massacre victim Genalyn Ampatuan.

“Perhaps, they (PNP-Scene of the Crime operatives) have it. They were there on the scene,” the NBI official said.

The NBI source said the DOJ and PNP teams would get together on Monday to meet in connection with the pieces of evidence they have so far gathered.

Reached for comment, City Prosecutor Edilberto Jamora of General Santos indicated it was still too early to reveal the pieces of evidence the government has gathered in connection with the case.

Asked if the prosecutors already have sworn statements pointing to members of the Ampatuan clan participating in the planning of the massacre, Jamora said: “So far it is still premature to disclose those kinds of details.”

“That information is still off limits,” Jamora said.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has yet to receive a formal request for the transfer of the venue of the trial.

“We have not yet received a formal request or petition for the creation of a special court. Last I heard is that the cases will be filed before the proper court with territorial jurisdiction over Shariff Aguak,” tribunal spokesperon Midas Marquez said.