Media security TF head on Ampatuan case delay: It is worth the wait

MANILA, Philippines  — The head of the government’s media security task force did not mind the one-month extension given by the Supreme Court to resolve the decade-old Ampatuan massacre case.

“It is worth the wait. What is one month compared to 10 years? Lower courts usually go on Christmas break in mid-December. So the decision may be out by December 14,” Presidential Task Force on Media Security Joel Egco said in a statement Friday.

“Without pre-empting the outcome, I am optimistic that the families of the victims will finally get the justice that they have been waiting for the last decade,” he added.

Earlier Friday, the high court granted Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes a one-month extension to resolve the case.

Despite the delay, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said “we expect that justice will ultimately prevail for the victims and their families.”

“We cannot help but be amazed at the dedication of the men and women of the law enforcement units, prosecutors, and most especially, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, whose passion for their work is exceeded only by their desire to see this case through its conclusion,” he added.

On November 23, 2009, 58 persons, including 32 journalists, were killed in Maguindanao. It was eventually called the Ampatuan massacre, which has since been dubbed as history’s single deadliest attack on journalists. /kga