4th Month of Seeking Justice: PCP joins in marching for the 120th day commemoration of Ampatuan massacre

By Andrea Zarah Dayao

The Philippine Center for Photojournalism (PCP), together with the November 23 Movement and National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) commemorated the fourth month of the Ampatuan Massacre last March 23, 2010.

A march-rally, which started from FEU Morayta to Mendiola Bridge, was held. People from different media organizations marched with torches and pictures of 32 victims.

Like the three previous commemorations, a short program was held. An ecumenical invocation was conducted by Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR), a religious organization of churches involved in expressing advocacies on human rights and social justice. Some of the speakers were NUJP Director Rowena Paraan, Philippine Daily Inquirer Photojournalist President Joan Bondoc, Joel Garduce of Concerned Artists of the Philippines and Mike Dobbie of International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

The gruesome killings, where 57 people were killed, occurred last November 23, 2009. 32 of victims were journalists and media workers. The massacre happened when an almost 40-vehicle convoy comprising groups from Davao City, Kidapawan and Cotobato City arrived at Sitio Masalay in Barangay Salman in Ampatuan Town.

Multiple charges have been filed against Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. The Quezon City Trial Court also ordered the arrest of 196 others, including Ampatuan Sr., ARMM Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan, who is one of the alleged feudal-fascist warlords in the Philippines, and their private armies. But exactly four months since November 23, 2009, judicial process has been distressingly been slowing down, stating only the reality that the judicial path to fairness will be very long and meandering to navigate.

Tactics delaying justice

Editha Tiamzon, wife of UNTV driver Daniel Tiamzon, one of the 32 media people killed, came all the way from Cavite to commemorate the 120 days memorial of the massacre. She admitted that she is still on the process of grieving and longing for her husband. She emphasized that there would always come a time that she would think of her spouse and miss him even more. “Malungkot, lalong malungkot dahil akala mo makakarekober ka, ‘yun pala hindi,” (It’s sad, very sad. I thought I would be able to recover, yet I still cannot) she stated.

As with the progress of the case, it’s difficult for them to see that no justice is taking place right now. Some of the suspects were released from jail, with the cops saying that they were just missing. According to the NUJP press statement, reports have also been said that there were cases of colleagues that were actually giving false statements and press releases intended to twist the facts of the November 23 incident. The powerful Ampatuans and their allies also attempted to bribe the families of the victims in return from the withdrawal of their complaints.

Atty. Joel Ruiz Butuyan, one of the legal counsels of the Maguindanao massacre, came up with an affidavit addressing the Department of Justice of not taking its responsibility in giving protection and securing a certain “Jesse” of the Witness Protection Program (WPP). “Jesse” is an alleged member of a police auxiliary unit in Maguindanao and was one of the seven gunmen. Demanding justice and coordination between the Department of Justice and the private prosecutors have also been stated on the said affidavit.

Lawyers deprived of freedom of speech

Atty. Benjamin Luis, one of the lawyers of the November 23 incident came up to the masses and gave his sentiments regarding the right of speech which, the lawyers have been deprived of by the government, “Isa pang irony na mismo pong mga abugado ng mga mamamahayag ay hinihiling po nilang manahimik. Ang paniwala po namin, ang pamilya po ng mga mamamahayag ay namatay para po tayo ay malayang magsalita at ipaalam sa publiko kung ano po ang nangyayari sa ating bansa, kami rin po bilang kanilang mga abugado ay tatayo rin po sa aming commitment para po sa freedom of the press at right of the people to know.” (It’s so ironic to see that we, the lawyers of the slain media men are asked not to talk regarding the developments and progress of the case. What we believe is that these media men were killed so we would have the right to talk and inform the public of what really is happening to our country, and us lawyers, would stand with our commitment for the freedom of the press and the right of the people to know.), he said.

Further efforts for case development

“The next step we would do is to file a case to the ombudsman against Gen. Cayton and Col. Geslani for their involvement with the massacre,” Atty. Luis answered. Col. Menardo Geslani was a former commanding general of the Army 601^st Infantry Brigade, while Maj. Gen. Alfredo Cayton Jr. was also a former commanding general of the 6^th Infantry Division in the district of Cotabato. “They know something even before the massacre happened, but they closed their eyes to it,” as explained by Atty. Harry Roque regarding the involvement of two commanding officers on the massacre.

NUJP Director, Rowena Paraan stressed out that the monthly commemoration of the Maguindanao massacre would still be observed not only until the slain victims attain the justice that they deserve. “Today we vow once again, we will keep watch, we will not falter, until an accounting is made, not just of those involved in the carnage but, just as important, of those whose mis-governance made this outrage not just possible but inevitable,” as also stated on the NUJP press statement written by Chairman Nestor Burgos.

The program ended with a candle-lighting ceremony to honor and tribute those media men who were killed in the Maguindanao massacre.