Apex court urged to ensure wheels of justice move faster

Justice Secretary joins angry relatives during delay of trial of influential political families involved in the killing of 57 people last November

Manila Justice Secretary Leila de Lima joined several relatives who believe government prosecutors have given in to the delaying tactics of the influential family of the main suspect and his accomplices on trial for the murder of 57 people last year.

Upon learning that Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes had postponed the trial of Andal Ampatuan Jr and 16 policemen to September 8, De Lima said the help of the Supreme Court was needed for the trial to continue.

"I told the panel to look for [a] remedy outside the court... if we counter all their motions, we will only contribute to the delay. We cannot allow that," de Lima said.

De Lima added that Ampatuan Jr's trial should proceed since the defence counsels had agreed to a September 1 hearing.

Assistant Chief State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon said: "The victims, like the accused, have the right to a speedy trial."

Fadullon stressed that some witnesses had since died and he added that relatives of the slain had been following up the case in Metro Manila.

Catherine Nunez, a relative of one of the victims, complained and wailed at the same time when the postponement of the hearing was announced.

"The court seems to be favouring the criminals," she said. "They are rich. They are powerful. We, the victims, do not have anything… We fear for our lives."

Nunez claimed that the Ampatuans had the power to destroy witnesses. The prosecution was supposed to present three witnesses against the family. Their names were not released for security reasons.

However, one key witness has since been murdered.

The trial cannot proceed until the petition for bail filed by Ampatuan Jr is resolved by the court, lawyer Sigfrid Fortun said.

He said the court must follow a proper sequence in the hearing of the case.

The Ampatuans filed a motion for bail for the accused and five motions for reconsideration that sought to disqualify Judge Reyes from taking on the case.