Ampatuan death: No effect on massacre case, trial on

Some are forgiving

“Even before his death, deep in my heart I have already forgiven him. As a devout Christian, I believe it is only in forgiving that we are forgiven,” said former Cotabato City Councilor Marino Ridao Sr., whose son, Anthony, was among those killed in the massacre.

Anthony was driving his Toyota Tamaraw on his way to Cotabato City tailing a convoy of vehicles when gunmen flagged down his car.

But while he has forgiven Ampatuan Sr., “our cry for justice continues. Justice must be served,” said Ridao.

Ma. Reynafe Momay-Castillo, whose father, Reynaldo Momay, was also killed, said she too had forgiven the elder Ampatuan.

“I have forgiven him. I know he killed so many people, including my father, but I have forgiven him,” she told the Inquirer before flying back to the United States after spending some time in Sultan Kudarat for the burial of her mother, Femy, who died on June 16.

“Deep in my heart, I have forgiven him as he was dying in the intensive care unit,” she said.

Castillo, however, said that justice was so slow that the relatives of the victims were losing hope.

Regrets, sadness

She said she regretted her mother died without seeing the massacre suspects convicted.

“I know how it feels to lose a loved one. Deep inside me, I am praying that Andal Sr. asked forgiveness from the people so that his journey to the unknown would be lighter and that Allah would accept him,” she said.

Grace Morales, the widow of Rosell Morales, said she was saddened by the death of Ampatuan Sr.

“I am sad because he died without the case resolved. Death had overtaken him because justice is so slow,” Morales said.

She expressed some apprehension that the jailed sons and relatives of Ampatuan Sr. would be granted temporary freedom to mourn with their families in Maguindanao.