Lawyers’ bribe rap vs state prosecutors to derail Maguindanao massacre trial—Roque

Atty. Harry Roque Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—One of the private counsels for the victims of the Maguindanao massacre lamented the accusations of bribery made by two other private lawyers against state prosecutors.

“The unsubstantiated claims of bribery versus public prosecutors serve no purpose other than to derail the goal of effective prosecution,” Harry Roque of Center Law, which has been representing the heirs of 15 victims of the massacre, said in a statement posted on Twitter on Tuesday.

Private prosecutors Nena Santos and Prima Jesusa Quinsayas last week held a press conference claiming a “professional rift” between public and private prosecutors. Santos also reportedly claimed that public prosecutors have been bribed to compromise the trial.

Santos represents 27 complainants, including Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, whose wife was among the 58 killed in the Nov. 23, 2009 massacre allegedly perpetrated by the Ampatuans led by patriarch, then Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr.

“The publicity generated by Santos and Quinsayas against the fiscals unfairly taint the integrity of the work of the prosecution,” Roque said.

He earlier said that the rift was between the two on one side and the rest of the prosecution panel on the other.

Roque added that Santos and Quinsayas should air their allegations in the proper forum, such as in judicial criminal proceedings or administrative proceedings of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

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