CHR all praises for QC judge who convicted Maguindanao massacre accused

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) was all praises for Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes, after her decision to convict the key accused in the Maguindanao massacre.

In a statement Thursday, CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said the court deserves commendation for deciding on the case based on the merits and evidence presented.

“CHR welcomes the guilty verdict against some members of the Ampatuan clan involved in the brutal death of 58 persons, including 32 journalists, in Maguindanao,” De Guia said.

“We equally laud the efforts of the court, with Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes presiding, to resolve this case based on the merits of the evidence and testimonies presented, equally recognizing the measures done by the Supreme Court to assist and expedite the proceedings,” she added.

According to De Guia, the closure of the case is a clear signal that impunity cannot exist in a democratic state and that perpetrators of crimes would be held accountable.

“This case’s resolution echoes our call to ensure that justice prevails by making every perpetrator accountable for crimes committed against human rights and dignity, especially given its scope and scale,” she explained.

“While being a landmark decision, we steadily urge the government to ensure that every case of assault to the rights of Filipinos be met with the full force of the law towards addressing marks of impunity that continues to prevail,” she added.

Earlier, the court decided that the Ampatuan siblings, including former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Datu Zaldy “Puti” Ampatuan and Datu Anwar Ampatuan Sr., were guilty of murdering the 57 victims — 10 years after the infamous incident in November 2009.

The victims were on their way to file the certificate of candidacy of then Buluan town mayor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, who was challenging the Ampatuan clan’s grip on the Maguindanao gubernatorial post.

Out of the 57 victims, 31 were journalists — the supposed 58th victim,  photographer Reynaldo “Bebot” Momay, was excluded from court decision as his body was not found.

De Guia insists that the Maguindanao massacre case should be a lesson for people to value the role of the media and to protect journalism, as it is key to ensuring a vibrant democracy.

“Let today be a teaching moment on the need to resolve cases with urgency; in affording better protection for journalists; the need for media literacy in allowing free speech to flourish in a democratic society; and in making sure that government institutions live up to their obligation in protecting rights of every Filipino,” she explained.

“May this verdict revive our faith in the justice system, as well as in the principles of due process and rule of law—further recognizing that value of truth as our best defense against the many forms of abuses that threaten human dignity,” she added.

Edited by MUF