Bail grant to 17 'Maguindanao massacre' cops won't affect case - lawyer

MANILA, Philippines - The private lawyer for the families of the Maguindanao massacre victims on Thursday said the bail grant for the 17 policemen implicated in the 2009 carnage has no substantial effect on their prosecution in court.

Lawyer Harry Roque also downplayed the decision by the Quezon City regional trial court to grant bail to 17 police officers in the multiple murder case.

"The bail granted is not too consequential as far as we are concerned," Roque said.

Roque represents the families of 15 victims of the massacre, most of whom are journalists from Mindanao.

"We’re focused on proving the guilt of the Ampatuans before 2016 and we believe we have strong evidence to prove precisely that," he added.

The 17 police officers are among the 64 policemen facing administrative cases before the National Police Commission (Napolcom) in connection with the massacre.

The administrative cases were filed by the Center for International Law, a non-profit dedicated to the promotion of free expression in the Philippines and Asia headed by Roque.