Will the perpetrators in the Maguindanao massacre be caught and brought to justice?

It's no secret here that President Arroyo was heavily indebted to the Ampatuans for making her second term possible.

Last presidential/senatorial election in 2004, believe it or not many Ampatuan-controlled areas voted 0 for the opposition. The family is the government in this place...And their words are the law. They use taxpayers' money to enrich themselves, pay "benefits" to the hundreds of "employees" in their private army...The same "employees" they used as weapon to massacre as of latest count...57 unarmed people, some of whom are just people who are not even in the convoy but were just caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Will the perpetrators of this barbaric crime be brought to justice? Possible if the Filipino people and the international community will unite and keep pressure against the corrupt Arroyo and Ampatuan kingdom, I mean local government. Fortunately, Arroyo cannot run for another term so she can easily cut the ties that bind her to her loyal and reliable allies the Ampatuans. The only question is: will the Ampatuans resort to dirty tactics (as usual) to save their azzes? They could threaten to reveal potentially damaging evidences against Arroyo with connection to the 2004 election. They could use the millions if not billions of ill-gotten money they acquired to silence witnesses and "hire" top government officials, police and military pursuing the case.

The important thing is to be vigilant, and to think one or more step in advance against this deadly family before they could drag the country to the mud just to save themselves against the very same system that they have systematically manipulated and bastardized before this atrocity even occurred.

It was just so sad, the way innocent lives were affected, Phew, it's such that I think that it will be such a shame for the Philippines if this case will remain unsolved. It will mean that the justice system of the country is just a big show. My opinion is that the investigation will take a very long time to come up with results, given that, as you said, THAT Maguindanao clan has close ties with THAT president. I hope I'm wrong.

If those villains will get away with this, they can get away with anything. And show the whole world how the Philippine justice system reeks.

Although it may appear to be another instance of hooliganism that occurs with regularity, its magnitude is intensified due to the wanton brutality and the huge attention it received in the media. This becomes a very visible case that will be monitored closely by political analysts, human rights proponents, even the business community and of course the population at large, and will have a significant impact nationwide.

Therefore the administration will be forced to begin its efforts of resolving the situation, if they haven't done so already, to provide an appearance of swift action. After a theatrical investigation a few token suspects (not a great loss to the perpetrators) will be rounded up and brought to trial to give some semblance of justice and appease the victims.

Since the administration's tenure is about to end, it doesn't need a speedy trial nor a quick resolution, or any at all, only the imagery that it has pursued the issue. Lame ducks don't care, and why should they, and all we could do is hope for fairness.

The question, who is perpetrator?

The Supreme Court of the Philippines is the perpetrator for said crime.

Did you remember few months ago the application of Sarif Kabunsuan (territory of Mangudadatu Clans) to become a new province separate/out from Maguindanao (territory of Ampatuan Clans) and the application it was denied by Supreme Court. I guess the responsible for this Crime is the Supreme Court itself. The problem now is one Province for 2- powerful Clans.

If the Supreme Court approved Sarif Kabunsuan to become a province, do you think that incident would happened to the people who are residents from the Sarif Kabusuan? No.

Look the Lanao province it is famous and peaceful under the administration of Dimapuro Family since Pres. Marcos era until now.

certainly the extra acceptable query is "what else do we do to assist the families of the sufferer of the Maguindanao bloodbath?" as a concern citizen, i condemn the acts and might actually help the outcry for equivalent justice. I additionally advise that attorneys from IBP could help the victims for loose legal guidance simply by fact they're extra able to helping this undesirable human beings.. and for the relatives of victims, dont supply up the combat many Filipinos might actually assist you. If all legal remedies right here interior the Philippines fails, possibly its time to deliver it to international court docket.

It is up to the ordinary Filipino to ensure that this massacre DOES NOT become a insult to every law abiding person and to the victims and their families.

Every Filipino should petition all the media outlets, the army, the police etc. etc. Don't just sit there without doing anything or relying on the other guy to do his bit.

Forget that they were Muslims or maybe Christians, FIRST AND FOREMOST they were Filipino's and that is all that should matter. Do your utmost to have their killings avenged (legally).

If you let this go the way of the many "unsolved cases with hogwash investigations" then all I can say is 'I pity you, your children and your children's' children.

I am not a big fan of the government, but something tells me that in this particular instance, the perpetrators will be brought to justice. This is too big and too controversial to be swept under the rugs. The press, both national and international, are on the case. If the powers that be ignore this, and do not solve the issue in a fair manner, they know that they will all be pulled down the gutters of history.

what do we expect? the perpetrators are close to the arroyos...

is there a justice after the whole world heard about the "hello garci scandal"?

the issue is not just gma's indebtedness to the ampatuans. in politics, no utang na loob is worth your chances for future prospects.

gma's hesitation, i believe, is rather due to the question: how will the ampatuans respond to a crackdown? just how much damning evidence do they hold? can they prove that gma didn't really win the elections? if gma decides that that there really isn't much of a threat (to her), only then will she give the order to destroy the ampatuans

The identities of the attackers and their leader are known. There will not be a trial because no criminals will be left alive once the military finishes its job.