MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Only 28 people were convicted for 57 counts of murder for the 2009 Ampatuan massacre.

The 28, including masterminds Datu Andal Jr and Zaldy Ampatuan, were sentenced to reclusion perpetua, or a maximum of 40 years, without parole.

According to human rights lawyer Ted Te, they will be made to serve only 30 years because the 10 years they spent in detention while on trial is creditable preventive imprisonment. The 30-year sentence could also still be reduced, subject to the recent revision of the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law.

A total of 56* people, including Maguindanao town mayor Datu Sajid Islam Ampatuan, were acquitted. Datu Sajid Islam and 51 others were acquitted due to reasonable doubt. 

(*Editor’s Note: We earlier reported 55 were acquitted because P/Supt. Bahnarin Kamaong was announced as among those convicted. Kamaong’s name also appears on the list of the acquitted. We are still awaiting explanation from the court.)

State witnesses did not hear Sajid speak during the meetings where the massacre was planned. Most of those acquitted were policemen.

The 3 others who were found not guilty are PO1 Abdullah Baguadatu, PO1 Oscar Donato and PO1 Michael Madsig. Judge Jocelyn Solis Reyes said “the evidence of the prosecution failed to prove their guilt.”

An additional 15 people were convicted for being accessory to the crimes, and were sentenced to 6 to 10 years. Te said that in their case, the same creditable preventive imprisonment will apply. This means that for some of them who have been jailed for 10 years already, the prospect of freedom may come soon despite their convictions.

A full copy of Judge Reyes’ decision was still unavailable as of posting time. 

Judge Reyes said those convicted will be committed to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP). 

(1/3) READ the dispositive portion of the RTC decision in PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES VS. DATU ANDAL “UNSAY” AMPATUAN, JR., ET AL. pic.twitter.com/8kL2fptvHz

— Supreme Court Public Information Office (PIO) (@SCPh_PIO) December 19, 2019

The 58th victim

The 28 people were convicted of only 57 counts of murder, because Judge Reyes excluded Reynaldo Momay, a journalist whose body was never recovered. The case for him was belatedly filed in 2012 because his dentures were found in the crime scene.

As such, Momay’s family will not be entitled to damages. Each family was awarded P300,000 in civil indemnity and moral and exemplary damages on top of loss of earning capacity which varies per victim.

Harry Roque, lawyer of the Momay family, said they will appeal the civil aspect of the case, and run after damages also.

“Hindi naman pupuwede na nahanap ang postiso ni Mr Momay, confirmed na sumama sa coverage, nawala hanggang ngayon at wala pong finding na hindi po naging biktima si Mr Momay,” Roque said.

(Mr. Momay’s dentures were found, he was confirmed to have joined the coverage, he hasn’t been found, so how is it possible that he’s not included?) – Rappler.com