Panelo: Fears on massacre case baseless, accused prejudged

DAVAO CITY—The lawyer tagged  the next spokesperson of presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte sought to allay fears that his past job as lawyer for some of the accused in the massacre of 58 people, mostly media workers, in Maguindanao province nearly seven years ago would be a factor in the outcome of the case currently being tried in a Quezon City court.

Salvador Panelo, incoming presidential spokesperson and press secretary, was lawyer for the brothers Andal Jr. and Zaldy Ampatuan, two of the key accused in the November 2009 Maguindanao massacre.

“First, I already withdrew as counsel (of the Ampatuans) several months ago, in fact, since last year,” said Panelo, who also served as legal counsel of Duterte amid accusations the leading candidate for President amassed ill-gotten wealth.

“Second, even if I did not withdraw, the fear has no basis,” Panelo said.

But Panelo said the rules of court are clear on criminal cases, like the Maguindanao massacre.

“When your evidence is sufficient to get a quantum of proof required for conviction, then the accused will be convicted,” Panelo told reporters at the Marco Polo hotel here. “If it does not, the accused will be acquitted,” he added.

Asked if a Duterte administration would support the quest for justice of victims of the massacre, Panelo refused to be categorical. “The Duterte presidency will always be responsive to all calls for justice,” he said.

He quickly added: “It will always be in accordance with the rule of law.”

“We have to follow the Constitution and we can’t be biased about certain things,” he said.

Panelo added that the accused in the massacre case had been judged in public as guilty but “the Constitution gives us the presumption of innocence to all the accused.”

Relatives of the massacre victims have expressed disappointment over Panelo’s impending appointment, saying giving Panelo a Cabinet position might lead to further delay in the case.

“We urge the incoming government not to let political considerations get in the way of ensuring justice for the victims of the Ampatuan massacre,” said Ryan Rosauro, chair of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).

The massacre, believed to have been part of a plot to keep the Ampatuans in power in Maguindanao, has put the country on the map of the world’s most dangerous places  for journalists.

Duterte defended his choice of Panelo as incoming spokesperson.

“Mere association does not make you a criminal, or (can turn you into) somebody as bad as your client,” Duterte said in an interview with TV5. Germelina Lacorte