Palace appeals anew for patience in Ampatuan massacre trial

Malacañang appealed to the public anew for patience in the ongoing trial of the suspects in the Nov. 23, 2009 Maguindanao massacre, amid criticisms the proceedings are going slow. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that while the Executive Department is doing its part to prosecute the case, it has no choice but to follow the rules of procedure. “We are doing our part in the prosecution. May sinusundan tayong rules of procedure sa paglitis ng kaso. Hindi lang ito ang kasong mabagal ang usad. Maraming kasong nakabinbin na ang tagal hindi umuusad," she said on government-run dzRB radio on Saturday. Fifty-seven people were killed in the Ampatuan town massacre, 32 of them journalists or media workers. Valte acknowledged that nearly two years after the incident, not all of the suspects had been arraigned yet, even as some of the suspects remain at large. She also said the government is aware the whole world is keeping tabs on developments surrounding the case. “Hindi lang tayo nag-aabang sa tinatakbo ng kaso buong mundo nakatingin. Hopefully mas umusad nang mas mabilis ang paglitis sa kaso," she said.