By Rosemarie A. Zamora

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has vowed to families of victims of the 2009 Ampatuan massacre that justice will be served “under his watch,” Malacañang said on Friday, Nov. 24.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr., in his press briefing said Mr. Duterte had a “cordial, candid, and impassioned” meeting with the families on Thursday, Nov. 23.

That day marked the eighth anniversary of the massacre in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao, which claimed the lives of 58, including 32 identified with the media.

The massacre allegedly on the watch of the Ampatuan family is still deemed the biggest case of political violence in recent memory. The Committee to Protect Journalists describes this incident as “the single deadliest event for journalists in history.”

An update by the Supreme Court last Tuesday indicated the case was still in the stage of hearing evidence.

Mr. Roque for his part said, “The President gave specific instructions to [Justice Secretary Vitaliano N.] Aguirre, the PTFoMS [Presidential Task Force on Media Security] and the state prosecutors handling the case who were present, to see to it that a conviction would be handed down to the principal accused (at) the soonest possible time.”

“He likewise instructed Special Assistant to the President, Secretary Christopher “Bong” Go, to arrange employment, scholarships and financial assistance to the families,” Mr. Roque added.

Mr. Roque said the families had sought an audience with the President “to personally seek his help in their long quest for justice against the powerful members of the Ampatuan clan in Maguindanao.”

The spokesman added: “President Duterte, a former prosecutor himself, even shared his thoughts on the dynamics and intricacies of the justice system, noting that even the right of the accused to be heard is sacred under our democratic rules. Nevertheless, he expressed optimism that the strength of the case against them-188 respondents in all-will eventually lead to a verdict favorable to the victims.”

Mr. Roque also noted that Mr. Duterte, then mayor of Davao City during the massacre, was among the first to extend help to the families by providing a helicopter that helped locate the site of the massacre.

“Rest assured that us in the government, through PTFoMS, the DOJ and other stakeholders, will work without letup in ensuring justice for all victims of violence against members of the working press,” Mr. Roque said, adding:

“We are committed to upholding the President’s promise that his government will never condone violence and repression of media.”

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