Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday said he would ask President Rodrigo Duterte to meet with the prosecution panel of the 2009 Maguindanao massacre case amid reports that some witnesses had retracted their testimonies against the Ampatuans. Roque, a former human rights lawyer before serving as the President’s spokesman, once served as a private prosecutor for the victims’ relatives. Pero pinatawag ko na po ang panel of prosecutors dito sa Palasyo,” he said. The meeting, according to Roque, is also “pursuant to the marching order of the President” to wrap up the case this year. The government has indicted some 200 suspects in the killing, including the late Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and sons, Andal Jr. and former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 13, 2018 06:26 UTC