Victims’ lawyer welcomes prosecution’s formal offer of evidence

A lawyer for the victims of the Maguindanao massacre has welcomed a development in the trial after the prosecution rested its case against the 54 suspects charged with 58 counts of murder.

Lawyer Harry Roque on Friday welcomed the presentation of formal offer of evidence by the prosecution, saying it had been “long overdue.”

“This is long overdue … Sa ganitong proseso ay nag-formal offer of evidence na ang prosekusyon laban sa limampu’t apat na mga nasasakdal at kasama po dito ’yung mga anak ng nasirang ama na si Andal Ampatuan Sr.,” Roque said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer 990AM.

Roque said the filing of formal offer of evidence meant that the defense or the lawyers of the suspects could now start to present their evidence and witnesses depending on which the court would admit.

Roque earlier suggested to the court that the prosecution could rest its case on some of the suspects and not wait until the presentation of formal offer of evidence was finished so the case could prosper.

“Ito po ay long delayed na. Kung maaalala ninyo eh dapat nung isang taon pa pinupukpok talaga ang prosekusyon na mag-rest na ng case dahil ito ay sang-ayon dun sa sinangguni namin (sa Supreme Court) kung saan pwede na kami mag-rest ng case laban sa ilan at hindi lang kinakailangan intayin na matapos ang presentasyon ng ebidensya laban sa lahat. Ito naman po ay sinusugan ng ating Korte Suprema,” he said.

The five-year Maguindanao trial started in November 2009 after 58 people, including 32 journalists, were murdered in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao.

The Maguindanao massacre is considered the single deadliest event for journalists in history. Nestor Corrales/RC