Department Of Justice Dropping Murder Charges Against 2 Ampatuans??!

Just yesterday our government will be dropping murder charges against 2 members of the powerful and influential Muslim clan of the AMPATUANS. They are Akmad and Zaldy Ampatuan who are alleged to be linked to election-linked killings in their region. The information came from Justice Secretary Alberto Agra. He says he has already passed the resolution and asked the prosecution to amend the charges to drop against the 2.

This decision has provoked much anger and outrage on the side of the victims’ families who have expressed their opinions that justice will not be served if President Gloria Arroyo is still in power because of their alleged ties to each other.

Human Rights lawyer, Harry Roque, has stated that he has evidence which says that the victims cannot get justice if President Arroyo is still in power. The prosecution in February has stated that the 2 were involved in the conspiracy to murder the convoy carrying the Ampatuans’ political rival and several journalists also last November 23. The massacre shocked the whole world with the gruesomeness and heartlessness of it all.

Justice Secretary Agra has said that there is no evidence to support this and aside from that, the alleged were able to give proof of an alibi. Airline tickets and cellphone records were presented by the defense showing that the 2 were not in Maguindanao when the whole thing happened. The prosecution also had just 1 witness for the 2 accused.

Rebellion charges were also dropped last month in court but Agra has said that the government is seeking motion for reconsideration with the same court that dropped the charges.

This is just the latest update on the case.

Source: ABS-CBN News

Photo Credits: barriosiete.com