Another Maguindanao massacre case prosecutor dies

MANILA, Philippines—Another government prosecutor handling the Maguindanao massacre case has died.

State Prosecutor Nestor Lazaro, who was part of the original panel of prosecutors that handled the case, died Wednesday morning at the East Avenue Medical Center due to heart failure. He was 55, said private prosecutor Nena Santos.

“He had been in a coma since last week…This case is really taking a toll on us,” Santos told reporters after the hearing of the case on Wednesday, at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

In November 2010, Senior State Prosecutor Leo Dacera III, who was also a member of the prosecution team, died of a heart attack.

Santos said Lazaro had a history of heart problems and he even had to undergo a heart bypass operation in 2005.

“He had been hospitalized three times. Before, he was able to recover but on this third time, he didn’t,” Santos said.

She said they had advised Lazaro to take time off from attending the hearings but the prosecutor was adamant about attending.

“He wanted to be present and so sometimes, the defense noticed that he was dozing off. But that was because of his medication,” Santos said.

“I got angry because one of the defense lawyers even pointed it out to the court but it happened because of his medicines,” she added.

Santos said the panel was still trying to find out where Lazaro’s wake would be held and the date of his internment.

Lazaro was part of the original panel of prosecutors that handled the case and was among the few who remained in the prosecution team after Justice Secretary Leila de Lima revamped it.

Santos said on Wednesday that De Lima had issued another order recently pulling out three prosecutors assigned to the team while adding a new member – State Prosecutors Ramoncito Mendoza.

Santos said the team would be meeting on Friday to come out with the list of remaining witnesses it would present before resting its case on the petitions for bail filed by more than 50 accused.

“The prosecution is given until March 7 to submit the list. There will be no more extensions. I am interested in having these cases terminated at the soonest possible time,” said presiding Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes.