Press Release
January 23, 2009

Villar: Guilty verdict for Rizal Day bombers a victory in war vs terror

Nacionalista Party President Sen. Manny Villar today lauded the guilty verdict handed down by a Manila Court on three suspects in the Rizal Day bombings in December 2000 as a significant victory in the war against terrorism.

"The court ruling represents a clear triumph of justice in the government's determined campaign to rid the country of the scourge of terrorism," Villar said.

The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 29 on Friday found Saifulla Yunos alias Mukhlis Yuno, Abdul Fatak Paute, and Mamasao Naga of multiple murder, multiple frustrated murder, and multiple attempted murder and sentenced them to life imprisonment for the December 30, 2000 carnage that left 22 people dead and more than a hundred others wounded.

Villar said that in targeting innocent civilians, those found guilty of perpetrating the deadly bombings fully deserve the punishment meted out by the court.

The court verdict, Villar said, strengthens the fight against terrorism through the legal system. "This should serve as a deterrent to further cowardly acts by local and international terrorists in the country," he said.

"I am confident that with this verdict, we will see cases resolved more swiftly so that victims will not wait very long to get justice," Villar said.

At the same time, Villar cautioned authorities against letting down their guard. The police and the military, he said, should continue to monitor the activities of known terrorist groups and prevent them from launching more attacks on innocent victims similar to the Rizal Day bombings.

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