CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Mayor Oscar Rodriguez on Tuesday joined Central Luzon journalists in seeking justice for 32 media practitioners murdered a year ago in Maguindanao province.
Rodriguez, a former human rights lawyer, joined journalists in the commemoration rites of the Ampatuan massacre held in front of the city hall. A total of 58 people were killed on November 23, 2009 and a powerful political clan had been accused of the murder.
Rodriguez sponsored the breakfast and venue for the commemoration attended by at least 40 journalists in Pampanga and Central Luzon.
He said the city government joins the nation’s call for justice to the victims of the massacre.
In his speech, Rodriguez said the Maguindanao massacre reminded him of the blatant disregard to human rights during the Martial Law years, when he actively helped defend the rights of Filipinos who were oppressed by a dictator government.
Looking back a year ago, Rodriguez said the November 23 killing of innocent people, including the journalists, will forever live in infamy and even overshadowed the historic results of the succeeding May 2010 elections.
Members and officers of various media organizations in the region, among these the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) Pampanga Chapter, Central Luzon Media Association (CLMA), Angeles City Press and Radio Club, Pampanga Press Club (PPC), Society of Pampanga Columnists (SPC), Camp Olivas Press Corps (COPC), Pampanga Trimedia Association (Patma) held a short program in front of the city hall, lighted candles and sang “Ang Bayan” on clenched fists to resound the call for justice for their slain colleagues.
SPC Chairman Bong Lacson, in his speech, said “one year passing and still counting but there shall no forgetting.”
“The struggle for justice remains unceasing. The fight to end the culture of impunity that caused and effected the massacre unwavering,” said Lacson of Punto.
The media groups also called on the approval of live media coverage on the Maguindanao Massacre trial wherein members of the Ampatuan political clan are prime suspects.
Ashley Manabat, NUJP Pampanga president and CL Newsweek columnist, said in his speech that the Central Luzon media groups would continue on mourning until justice is served for the victims.
Manabat added that based on NUJP records, Pampanga is one of the only two provinces in the country that maintained a monthly commemoration of the incident.
Rodriguez, a former human rights lawyer, joined journalists in the commemoration rites of the Ampatuan massacre held in front of the city hall. A total of 58 people were killed on November 23, 2009 and a powerful political clan had been accused of the murder.
Rodriguez sponsored the breakfast and venue for the commemoration attended by at least 40 journalists in Pampanga and Central Luzon.
He said the city government joins the nation’s call for justice to the victims of the massacre.
In his speech, Rodriguez said the Maguindanao massacre reminded him of the blatant disregard to human rights during the Martial Law years, when he actively helped defend the rights of Filipinos who were oppressed by a dictator government.
Looking back a year ago, Rodriguez said the November 23 killing of innocent people, including the journalists, will forever live in infamy and even overshadowed the historic results of the succeeding May 2010 elections.
Members and officers of various media organizations in the region, among these the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) Pampanga Chapter, Central Luzon Media Association (CLMA), Angeles City Press and Radio Club, Pampanga Press Club (PPC), Society of Pampanga Columnists (SPC), Camp Olivas Press Corps (COPC), Pampanga Trimedia Association (Patma) held a short program in front of the city hall, lighted candles and sang “Ang Bayan” on clenched fists to resound the call for justice for their slain colleagues.
SPC Chairman Bong Lacson, in his speech, said “one year passing and still counting but there shall no forgetting.”
“The struggle for justice remains unceasing. The fight to end the culture of impunity that caused and effected the massacre unwavering,” said Lacson of Punto.
The media groups also called on the approval of live media coverage on the Maguindanao Massacre trial wherein members of the Ampatuan political clan are prime suspects.
Ashley Manabat, NUJP Pampanga president and CL Newsweek columnist, said in his speech that the Central Luzon media groups would continue on mourning until justice is served for the victims.
Manabat added that based on NUJP records, Pampanga is one of the only two provinces in the country that maintained a monthly commemoration of the incident.
