Pace of Maguindanao massacre case ‘outstanding,’ says CJ Sereno

“Being one of the most complex cases in the world, the pace of the judge in the Maguindanao massacre case has been outstanding.”

This was what Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said as she enumerated the accomplishments of the Philippine judiciary during the 3rd CJ Meets Press conference in Intramuros, Manila.

Sereno said that as of Aug. 26, the court had already heard 175 witness—93 for the prosecution, 24 for the defense, and testimonies from families of the victims.

“The prosecution has rested its case for the 48 accused,” she said.

Sereno even compared the pace of the Maguindanao massacre case with that of Oscar Pistorius, a South African sprint runner convicted of culpable homicide for killing his girlfriend. She said the Pistorius case took one year, with only one suspect and one victim.

The chief magistrate added that Andal Ampatuan Jr. was the only accused left to present evidence in the bail hearings. His father Andal Sr., also one of the primary suspects in the 2009 massacre which caused the death of 58 civilians, passed away last July.

READ: Andal Ampatuan Sr. is dead | Maguindanao massacre: How it happened | Timeline: Maguindanao massacre

“It is hoped that both prosecution and defense will fully rest their case this year,” Sereno added. Yuji Vincent Gonzales/RC