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.

There is, according to defense lawyers, not enough evidence to convict Datu Unsay Ampatuan. for the massacre of 58 persons. His lawyer said neither the bullets nor the guns used in the massacre were presented in court, and that the prosecution presented “incentivized witnesses” who testified in exchange for money or favors, or were relatives of the Mangudadatus.