Daughter of Maguindanao massacre’s 58th victim crestfallen over acquittal

MANILA, Philippines — As families of the 57 victims of the Maguindanao massacre rejoice over the verdict handed down by the Quezon City regional trial court, justice for the 58th victim of the slaughter remained elusive.

Ma. Reynafe Castillo, daughter of photojournalist Reynaldo “Bebot” Momay, tried to hold back tears as she expressed her dismay over the decision of QC RTC Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes during a radio interview over dzMM Thursday.

“Nung narinig ko yung number 57, I knew right away na hindi naisama yung kaso ng tatay ko. Sobrang nakakasama ng loob dahil sampung taon din po akong naghintay,” she said.

(When I heard the number 57, I knew right away that my father’s case was not included. This is too much to bear because we waited for 10 years for justice to be served.)

Momay’s body was never recovered in the makeshift grave site where the other victims’ bodies were dumped, together with the vehicles that they used. Private prosecutors, however, insisted that the dentures found at the site were his, and this became the basis in filing the 58th Information against the accused several years later.

“The first three years ng laban, nasa korte po ako… Hindi ko po ineexpect na ito lang ang mangyayari sa laban,” she said.

(For the first three years I was present in court… I did not expect that after 10 years, this is all we’ll get.)

“Wala akong maipakitang katawan sa kanila dahil itinago nila sa akin ang tatay ko,” she added.

(I don’t have a body to show them because they hid my father from me.)

Castillo insisted there were witnesses who saw his father board the van. “And if you can remember, my father signed the attendance sheet,” she said.

She also blamed the government’s handling of the recovery of the victims’ body. “I was there nung ginawang paghukay. Nakita ko kung paano ginawa yun.”

(I was there when they dug for the bodies. I witnessed how they did it.)

“Kung naging maayos lang lahat, kung ginawa lang po lahat lahat, I believe nakuha din po natin yung katawan ng tatay ko,” she insisted.

(If only the government did things right, if only they did everything, I believe my father’s body could’ve been recovered too.)

Romel Bagares, the family lawyer from Centerlaw, said the court failed to appreciate circumstantial evidence to prove that Momay was among the victims of the crime.

“The only trace we found of Reynaldo ‘Bebot’ Momay at the massacre site was a set of dentures,” said Bagares.

He added, “The dentures were made not by a dentist, but by a figure common in many parts of rural Mindanao—a dental technician who nevertheless testified that he was the one who made it for Bebot.”

The lawyer also noted the testimony of the owner of the motorcycle borrowed by Momay so he could go to the Mangudadatu residence and join their convoy.

Joseph Jubelag, another Mindanao-based journalist who was supposed to join the convoy but backed out last minute due to health reasons, also testified that he saw Momay board the van.

Despite this, the family counsel said they will not oppose the verdict of the court. They, however, will study the possibility of filing a notice of appeal for civil damages for Momay’s family.

They will also check if there is basis in ascribing grave abuse of discretion on the part of Solis-Reyes.