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| Southeast Asia |
| Witnesses promised protection |
| 2010-07-14 |
| [Straits Times] THE Philippines' new government said on Tuesday it would protect witnesses to the massacre of 57 people last year, after one was shot dead last month, ... just not that one... and ordered prosecutions of those attempting to buy their silence. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima met with prosecutors, police investigators and jail wardens to assess the case and the key suspects, members of the powerful Ampatuan clan, as well as plan the next steps, including ensuring the safety of witnesses. The trial of the main suspect, Andal Ampatuan Jr, has been suspended since February. Since then, 57 murder charges have been brought against Ampatuan's father, uncle and three brothers, as well as 191 others, but their trial has not started. There is an expectation the case will be pursued urgently by the two-week-old government of President Benigno Aquino III. 'The Ampatuan case will define the commitment of the Aquino administration to pursue cases without delay, and determine whether or not they can actually protect witnesses,' said Marvic Leonen, dean of the College of Law at the University of the Philippines. The Ampatuans are being held in detention in Manila. The clan had ruled southern Maguindanao province on Mindanao island for a decade and were strong supporters of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, whose term ended on June 30. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 what a disaster send in the marines and clean out the Ampatuan clan |
| Posted by: anon1 2010-07-14 04:57 |