MANILA, Philippines—Even suspected mass murderers like Andal Ampatuan Jr. have rights.
Leila de Lima, chair of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Sunday slammed media men for going “overboard” on Friday when they attacked the alleged mastermind of the election-related massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao Nov. 23.
The dead included 30 news people, making the incident the world’s largest slaughter of media practitioners and the Philippines the most dangerous place on earth for journalists, after such conflict zones as Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
“Yes, overboard. Expression of outrage can be done without physically harming the object of outrage. Without rule of law and restraint, we will all descend to a society where atrocities and vigilantism become a way of life,” said De Lima in a text message to the Inquirer.
Angry journalists mobbed Ampatuan as he was being led out of the Department of Justice (DoJ) by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after his preliminary investigation on multiple murder charges.
A photographer struck Ampatuan in the head with his camera.
The NBI said it would review its security arrangements for the mayor of Datu Unsay town who reportedly sustained injuries in the incident.
“Irrespective of what we think or feel, everyone has human rights, even suspects and convicted criminals. Violators of the law have limited rights but have rights nonetheless. The only limitations are those set by law, such as restrictions to right of liberty on account of detention,” De Lima said.
However, she stressed that anger at those who broke the law or were charged even with heinous crimes did not justify violation of their rights.
Presumed innocent
While individuals have freedom of expression, to express their outrage and to condemn Ampatuan, he also has the right to be presumed innocent, De Lima said.
“If journalists feel he should have no rights, they may be justified in saying such. But in so far as the mechanisms for justice are concerned, there is no alternative to respecting the accused’s rights. Lady justice is blind to public sentiment,” she said.
The Quezon City Regional Trial Court will hold at Camp Crame on Tuesday the first hearing of multiple murder charges against Ampatuan, Supreme Court spokesperson Midas Marquez said Sunday.
Senior State Prosecutor Leo Dacera also told the Inquirer that investigators had completed evidence to charge Ampatuan with 57 counts of murder, after receiving the latest results of investigations on 17 other victims.
Among those killed were the wife and two sisters of Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, who were in the convoy that he had sent to file his candidacy for governor of Maguindanao against Ampatuan.
190 under investigation
The NBI and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have also filed multiple murder charges against 190 people in the DoJ, including Ampatuan’s father, Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., and several other members of the powerful political clan.
Senior State Prosecutor Rosanne Balauag, chair of the DoJ panel conducting the preliminary investigation, told reporters on Friday that it had 60 days to decide if there was probable cause to elevate the case before the court.
Sigfrid Fortun, lawyer for the Ampatuan family, has told the panel that his clients will not answer the police and NBI allegations.
Transfer of Ampatuans urged
In General Santos City, the local council on Thursday approved a resolution opposing the continued detention of the Ampatuans at the headquarters of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), saying that they should be confined at the place where they would be tried.
Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and three of his brothers are detained at the CIDG facility in General Santos on rebellion charges. Their father is being held at a military camp in Davao City on the same accusation.
Also facing rebellion is Ampatuan Jr., who is confined at the NBI detention facility in Manila.
Vice Mayor Florentina Congson told reporters that the detention of the Ampatuans in the city did not only put to risk the security of the city but also showed insensitivity to the feelings of the victims’ families.
“We all know that the families of many journalists killed in the Maguindanao massacre are residing here. I think it is unfair that the Ampatuans are being detained here,” Congson said. With reports from Norman Bordadora in Manila, and Aquiles Zonio, Inquirer Mindanao
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