Citing the “voluminous records” of the case, the judge has requested a 30-day postponement of the promulgation of judgment. The Supreme Court agreed. In two days, on Dec. 19, 2019, it will finally happen.

They come from one of the poorest provinces of the country but the Ampatuans ranked among Asia's crazy rich, while they were in power. Court records showed that they owned five million square meters of property in parts of Maguindanao, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Davao City, and even in ritzy Dasmarinas Village in Makati City.

The defense panel invokes the high bar of "presumption of innocence" for the accused, under the Constitution. The prosecution says it has presented evidence and eyewitnesses to show that Datu Unsay Ampatuan committed the crime beyond reasonable doubt.

He purchased eight of the properties in Davao City of Andal Ampatuan Jr. Young and recently married lawyer in 2012, Arnel Cortez Manaloto is based in Angeles City, Pampanga, roughly a thousand kilometers north of the Maguindanao province of his more famous client.