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The Philippine government vowed on Friday to intensify efforts to find and prosecute 88 suspects in the Maguindanao massacre, considered the most gruesome mass murder of 58 innocent civilians, including 34 media workers in southern Philippines.
On the eve of the fourth anniversary of the infamous incident, Presidential Communications Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the government is bent on apprehending the suspects who remain at large in its bid to erase the stigma of the culture of impunity that led to the massacre.
Coloma said the Philippine National Police (PNP) has been directed to intensify the manhunt for the suspects. He said the Department of Justice is also continuing efforts to strengthen its investigate and prosecutorial arms.
"We join the advocates for institutional reforms including amendments to the Rules of Court that will hasten the delivery of justice. We will work with Congress to prioritize action on the enactment of the proposed whistle blower bill and amendments to strengthen the witness protection law," he said.
Families of the Maguindanao massacre victims have complained that up to now, not even one suspect has been sentenced by the court.
At least 196 people have been accused in the worst pre-election related violence in the Philippines. Among the key suspects are members of the then politically powerful Ampatuan clan in Maguindanao.
