(Eagle News) — The Supreme Court’s Office of the Court Administrator has granted the request of the Quezon City judge hearing the Maguindanao massacre case for a 30-day extension from the due date to decide the case.
In her Nov. 5 petition, Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes said the request for the extension was due to the “voluminous records” of the case, which she said have reached a total of 238 volumes.
Of the 238 volumes, 165 were volumes of records of proceedings, 65 volumes of transcripts of stenographic notes and 8 volumes of prosecutor’s documentary evidence).
The case was submitted for resolution on Aug. 22.
Under court rules, a judge should announce in open court the date of the promulgation of the decision.
The promulgation date should be within 90 days from the submission of the case for decision.
Victims of the Maguindanao massacre had hoped for a promulgation on Nov. 23, which marks 10 years since the crime that led to the deaths of 58 people, including 32 journalists and media workers.
Many of those killed were family members of Esmael Mangudadatu, political foe of the Ampatuan clan.
Some members of the Ampatuan clan have been charged over the crime.
Earlier, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that while the matter was left to the “sound discretion” of the Supreme Court, “we really hope that the good judge would be able to promulgate her decision sooner than later.” With a report from Moira Encina
