Lawyer hopeful shakeup won't weaken Ampatuan case

A private lawyer representing the families of journalists killed in the 2009 Ampatuan massacre in Maguindanao expressed hopes the multiple murder case won't suffer due to a recent shakeup in the prosecution panel. Lawyer Harry Roque, who represents the families of 15 massacre victims, told GMA News Online on Saturday that he was respecting the decision of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to replace five public prosecutors in the case. "I hope that the change in the prosecution panel will not have adverse consequences on the prosecution of the case and will not cause undue delay," Roque said. Replaced by De Lima were Assistant Chief State Prosecutor Richard Fadullon and his team of state prosecutors composed of Juan Pedro Navera, Irwin Maraya, Amanda Felipe and Karla Cabel. The Justice secretary revealed that a supposed rift between the public and private prosecutors has been escalating.

Apart from Roque, other private prosecutors handling the case are Prima Jesusa Quinsayas and Nena Santos. Santos is the legal counsel for Maguindanao Gov. Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu, whose wife and several close kin were also killed in the massacre. GMA News Online asked Santos to comment about the supposed rift among prosecutors but she declined. Roque, on the other hand, denied encountering any recent problems with his public counterparts. "While I have some concerns in the Ampatuan hearings, of late though, I had no reasons to speak out," he said "It is hence not true that I have differences with the public prosecutors. I defer though to Sec. de Lima on her decision," he added. The lawyer even said that Fadullon and his team of public prosecutors were "diligent and proven to be competent." Roque admitted that he had been critical of the Justice department under the previous leaderships of formers Secretaries Raul Gonzalez, Agnes Devanadera, and Alberto Agra. But this time, Roque said she would respect De Lima's decision to order the shakeup. "[But] I will continue to speak when I perceive a possible injustice," he cautioned. De Lima has already instructed Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III to step in and mend the misunderstanding between the public and private prosecutors. Baraan had attended a number of past hearings last year when they were still being held at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. At that time, he was tasked to monitor the performance of the prosecutors handling the case. Proceedings for the murder trial began in January 2010, halted in February, and resumed in August of the same year.—JV, GMA News