DoJ moves to protect Maguindanao massacre witnesses 07/05/2010

DoJ moves to protect Maguindanao massacre witnesses

07/05/2010 Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday gave stronger protection to witnesses of the Maguindanao massacre who are under threat from presumably those implicated in the worst case of political killing in the country which resulted in the death of 57 people. De Lima’s directive came as police claimed to have arrested two suspects in the killing of a key witness against the Ampatuan clan for the November 2010 killings. “A special team of prosecutors is sitting down with police on how to firmly and effectively address the spate of killings, violence and harassment of witnesses,” De Lima told AFP. “The stepped-up efforts include the immediate tracking down and arrest of the others accused.” She said close to 100 Ampatuan gunmen remained at large and continued to receive orders from their jailed patrons. “For as long as they’re still physically out there, and seemingly with resources and communication access to and from their big bosses, the atmosphere of violence and climate of fear will subsist,” de Lima said, adding authorities needed to “neutralize” the threat they posed. The Ampatuan clan, which ruled southern Maguindanao province for a decade, enjoyed political ties with former president Gloria Arroyo, who used the family’s huge private army as a force against separatist rebels.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100705hed6.html

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