It is not only the entire country that will be paying close attention to the legal proceedings. The entire world will, too.

What can be expected is for the defenders of the accused to try every possible legal tactic to delay the proceedings. The sheer number of respondents (close to 200) and witnesses (close to 300) alone tells us that this case can drag on and on, not just for months, but possibly years.

It must be noted that of the 196 indicted, only 98 have been arrested.

As for the witnesses, some have either gone missing, or have met untimely deaths.

We would hate to see the realization of a retired SC chief justice’s claim that the multiple murder cases against the suspects “will take many more years of waiting.” Worst of all, Senator Joker Arroyo has been quoted as saying that the trial could last for 200 years. For everyone’s sake, we hope that he was joking.

How often has it been said that justice delayed is justice denied?

The defense team should not forget that the Ampatuans also have their rights, one of which is the right to a speedy trial. Resorting to legal technicalities to delay the case will do the accused no good.
Since they are accused of mass murder, the court did not allow the suspects to post bail.

If, indeed, the case drags on for years or even decades, it is not inconceivable to imagine that some of the suspects will die of natural causes while under detention.

Under such a scenario, justice would not have been served. As a result, none of the 58 victims can ever truly rest in peace.