MANILA – The Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QC RTC) is expected to release its verdict on the Maguindanao Massacre case by December 20, Supreme Court Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta said.
According to Peralta, the high court has granted the request of QC RTC Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes for more time to come up with a decision as the SC considered the huge volume of evidence and parties in the case.
“In the case of Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes…we allowed her to have an extension of one month but as I said motions for extension are the exception rather than the rule and we understand her plight and I hope that she will no longer ask for another extension so that before the end of the year those cases will finally be decided,” Peralta said.
According to Peralta, all trial courts should promulgate their decision within the 90-day period after the case has been submitted for decision as stated in the existing Constitution.
In this case, it has been submitted for decision last Aug. 22 giving Solis-Reyes supposedly until last Nov. 20 to come up with the verdict on the culprits of the massacre.
“I am frustrated of what happened to the victims but I think Judge Reyes did her best in order to give justice to the victims and also in order to afford the accused the required due process of law under the constitution,” Peralta added.
On Nov. 23, 2009, a convoy composed of relatives, supporters, and media were on their way to file Mangudadatu’s certificate of candidacy for the 2010 elections when they were stopped by armed men, driven to a hill, shot, and buried in shallow pits.
Fifty-eight people, including 32 journalists and six motorists who were not part of the convoy, were killed in what is the worst case of election-related violence in Philippine history./PN
