NO JUSTICE, STILL. As they did on the first anniversary of the Ampatuan Massacre — in San Fernando then — and every year thereafter, Central Luzon mediamen will assemble at the Bayanihan Park at the entrance to the Clark Freeport Friday to cry for justice for the victims, 32 of whom were their colleagues.
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ANGELES CITY- As various groups nationwide mark on Saturday the 4th anniversary of the infamous Ampatuan massacre, journalists from six Central Luzon provinces will gather here to demand not only justice, but a “timeline” for the case up to 2016.
Fred Villareal, vice chairman of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in Pampanga, said members of NUJP chapters in Central Luzon have agreed to assemble at the Bayanihan Park towards the Clark Freeport here and form a human chain to commemorate this Saturday the fourth year of the still unresolved massacre case.
Villareal said the NUJP chapters in Central Luzon “are not content with merely demanding justice in the case and an end to impunity in our judicial system, but also a timeline in resolving the case that should wind up within the term of Pres. Aquino in 2016.”
He said hundreds from various groups, including the general public, are expected to join the human chain at the
park starting 4 p.m. this Saturday. “The venue is such that the public could readily participate, on top of various groups that have already committed to join,” he added.
Villareal said a statement would be issued during the event, asking that the Ampatuan massacre trial be fast tracked and decided upon by 2016.” “Prayers will be said and candles will be lit for the victims of the massacre and the families they left behind,” he added.
Thirty two media workers were among the the 58 people slain in the massacre in Masalay, Barangay Salman in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao on Nov. 23 four years ago. The victims were on their way to Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao to file the certificate of candidacy of then Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu for governor when their convoy was waylaid in Ampatuan town.
Around 100 gunmen allegedly headed by former Datu Unsay, Maguindanao Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. herded
them off to remote portion of Masalay where they were shot dead one after the other. Rowena Paraan, national
chairperson of the NUJP said they will visit the site in Sitio Masalay to retrace the events that took place during the massacre.
“Four years have already passed and justice has yet to be served to the victims. Our visit to the massacre site is
a way of renewing our commitment and making the people aware of our continuing quest for justice, not only for the victims of the Ampatuan massacre but for all cases of media killings in the country,” Paraan said.
The massacre prompted groups around the world advocating freedom of expression to declare Nov. 23 as the International Day to End Impunity in 2011.
