Agra decision to form review panel known next week

Justice Secretary Alberto Agra is giving himself until next week to decide whether or not to form a review panel that would go over the Maguindanao multiple murder case again. Agra was quoted in a television report as saying that while it was not his obligation to form such a panel, he would consider it as an option and make a decision by Monday. The acting Justice secretary is under fire due to his controversial order clearing two Ampatuan clan members from murder charges that stemmed from the killing of 57 people on Nov. 23, 2009. Agra also said he has not yet decided who would comprise the review board, but remained firm on maintaining his stand on the issue. Agra released the highly-contested order last week, saying there was insufficient evidence to prove suspects Zaldy Ampatuan and Akmad Ampatuan participated in the crime.

The order stirred up prosecutors handling the case, prompting them to "walk out" of the DOJ building in Manila and publicly expressing their defiance against Agra's decision. Relatives of massacre victims had earlier warned that they would ask President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to remove Agra from the Justice department if he replaces the panel of prosecutors that investigated the case. The Palace had earlier distanced itself from the controversy, claiming Agra's decision was purely his own, and that Mrs. Arroyo did not influence him to do so. Agra expressed certainty that the President still has confidence in him amid calls for his resignation. A disbarment case had already been filed against him before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP). Complaint vs Agra IBP general council and chief of staff Rodolfo Urbiztondo said they would study the disbarment case filed on Thursday by relatives of the slain journalists in the massacre. Urbiztondo said one of their commissioners would first be reviewing the complaint for 10 days before submitting it to the director of the IBP's Commission on Bar Discipline. The Supreme Court has the final say on the disbarment case, he added. Agra admitted that the controversy had taken its toll on his family, even forcing him to send his family to the United States. — Mark Merueñas/RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV