Tight security maintained for Maguindanao massacre case judge

MANILA, Philippines — Police officers are still providing security for Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221, after she handed down on Thursday the long-awaited ruling on the Maguindanao massacre case after 10 years of trial.

Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas, acting director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), said close-in security personnel are still deployed for Solis-Reyes, while some police officers are stationed near her residence and are authorized to conduct random checkpoints.

“Ang agreement namin sa Supreme Court administrator, ang security niya, ang close-in niya, tuloy pa rin until the time that the judge will already feel na yung situation is back to normal at wala na siyang agam-agam,” he said in a press briefing on Friday.

(Our agreement with the Supreme Court administrator is the security detail will continue until the time that she feels the situation is back to normal and she no longer has apprehensions.)

Sinas said the police have not received a report of any threat to the security of Solis-Reyes.

In her 761-page long decision on the Maguindanao massacre that led to the death of 58 people, including 32 journalists on November 23, 2009, Solis-Reyes declared guilty 28 of the accused including Datu Andal “Unsay” Ampatuan Jr. and his brothers Zaldy and Anwar Ampatuan Sr.

They were sentenced to reclusion perpetua without parole.

Fifteen others accused were sentenced to six to ten years in prison for being accessories to the crime, while 56 others were acquitted.

GSG