Tacurong blast worries prosecution lawyer in massacre case

Last Monday's car bomb attack in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat, that was believed to be targeting Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu proved that nobody involved in the Maguindanao massacre case is safe.

This was according to private prosecutor Harry Roque Jr., who represents families of 15 of the 57 victims of the Nov. 23, 2009 carnage. "Iisa lang ang ibig sabihin nito. No one is safe. Kung nabiktima si Gov. Mangudadatu ng pagbobomba, paano pa ang mga ordinaryong mamamahayag at kanilang pamilya tulad ng kliyente ko," Roque said. Roque said the attack showed how victims and witnesses in the massacre case remain vulnerable to such "dangerous" attacks. He claimed that Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo's assurance of government security for his clients remained unfulfilled up to now. He said to this day, almost two years since the massacre happened, his clients remain without any government security. "The government should have considered [such attacks] a long time ago," Roque said. The car bomb in the Tacurong incident exploded and hit a passing black Toyota Fortuner that was part of Mangudadatu’s convoy. The Fortuner was owned by Maguindanao board member Datu Russman Sinsuat Sr. who, along with a tricycle driver, was killed in the blast. Mangudadatu lost his wife and two sisters in the massacre blamed on the rival Ampatuan clan. Principal suspects Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his son Andal Jr. have no knowledge of the alleged assassination attempt on Mangudadatu, according to defense lawyer Sigfrid Fortun. Andal Sr. and Andal Jr. are among 197 suspects facing multiple counts of murder for the massacre. — Mark D. Merueñas/KBK, GMA News