This is what many of us are afraid of:
“…constitutional law expert and Ateneo Law School dean emeritus Fr. Joaquin Bernas said that the government has a big job ahead in proving that the murder cases against Ampatuan Jr. are not connected to the alleged rebellion in Maguindanao.
Bernas said that if the Maguindanao massacre cases become connected to the rebellion charges, which was the basis for the declaration of martial law in parts of the province, the murder case will be absorbed by the heavier rebellion case.
If this happens, Bernas said, even if Ampatuan Jr. becomes convicted of murder, since it is already part of a rebellion case, the President can grant him pardon after the final conviction, and he can also be granted amnesty.
However, amnesty could be harder to come by, since it requires approval of Congress, voting separately.
Because of this possibility, he urged the public to be more vigilant to help bring justice to the victims of the massacre.” (Read the entire aticle here)
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