Maguindanao massacre verdict will show PHL’s respect for life, free press —lawyer

The long-awaited verdict on the 2009 Maguindanao massacre will show whether or not the country respects the right to life and to a free press, a lawyer said Wednesday.

Interviewed on Balitanghali, Gilbert Andres of Centerlaw said the verdict will also affirm the country’s respect for the rule of law.

“Talagang kailangan pa rin po nating matutunan ‘yung lesson na the right to life is very important, and the right to freedom of expression and a free press is important in a democratic society,” he said.

Andres is the lawyer for some of the victims of the massacre, which claimed the lives of 58 people including 32 journalists.

“Ito ‘yung karumaldumal na massacre na naglagay sa atin sa record books dahil naging dangerous tayo for journalists kaya mahalaga ito sa bawat Pilipino,” he said.

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The lawyer also lamented how the prevailing culture of impunity in the country shows that Filipinos have not learned their lessons from the gruesome massacre.

“Parang hindi pa rin tayo natututo kasi there’s a sense of impunity pa rin ngayon kasi we’re still not respecting the right to life, with what's happening, for example, in the war on drugs,” he said.

"Kailangan pa rin po nating matutunan ang lesson that the right to life is very important, and the right to freedom of expression and a free press is important in a democratic society," he also said.

In the public interest

Andres appealed to the public to become "active participants" in the exercise of the rule of law in the Philippines.

"Remember, in a criminal case, the plaintiff is actually the People of the Republic of the Philippines, dahil merong national interest, meron public interest involved, especially since talagang there's a sense of impunity in this Maguindanao massacre that placed us on the world map of being one of the dangerous places for journalists," he said. 

"Kaya mahalagang makinig po tayo para maging active participants tayo sa ating courts system, sa pag-exercise ng rule of law."

He added, in closing, that "siguro ito 'yung panahon na kailangang manalangin para sa hustisya para sa victims ng Maguindanao massacre."

The Maguindanao massacre is considered the worst election-related violence in the country and put the Philippines on the map as one of the most dangerous countries in the world to be a journalist.

The verdict on the case will be issued on Thursday. — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News