GENERAL SANTOS CITY – (April 8, 2011) – Grieving but fighting for justice, families of the victims of the Ampatuan Massacre, mostly journalists, yesterday commemorated the 500th day since the bloodiest day in the history of journalism in the country took place.
A Holy Mass at Forest Lake Memorial Park, the grave of slain journalists from General Santos City, was offered for the victims.
“Patuloy pa rin silang umiiyak, subalit buo pa rin at nagkakaisang lumalaban sa kaso ang mga pamilya ng mga biktima (They still grieve yet strong and united to continue the fight for justice),” Father Arnold Abelardo said in a radio interview.
Parents, wives, children, relatives and friends of the victims wear the “Justice for all the victims of the Maguindanao Massacre now!” pin during the program held at the cemetery.
“Wala kaming natanggap sa nakaraang administrasyon (We did not receive anything from the previous administration),” said Editha Tiamzon, wife of one of the victims. “We have only received P50,000 from the promised P50-million fund from the FPI (Federation of Philippine Industries) from the present administration,” Tiamzon said.
Staff from the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists said they have no contact with the FPI at present.
“Kung paunti-unti ang ibibigay sa amin, hindi makakatayo ang mga pamilya lalo na yung walang-wala, yung dapang dapa (Surely we cannot stand on our own, especially the poorest among us, if we are to receive on layaway basis the whole amount of what we are supposed to receive),” Tiamzon said.
During the press conference, former research director of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism and National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) Secretary General Rowena Paraan said more to the promise of financial support to the families is the promise of swift justice of the case against the Ampatuans.
One of these, Paraan said, is the CCTV cameras to be put up in Bicutan jail to monitor the accused and how they are being treated. Paraan said parties are sometimes held inside the prison for the accused or that they were allowed to go out as a sort of VIP treatment.
Paraan said the jail warden admitted they (Ampatuans) were allowed servants and two nurses serving them 24/7.
“We asked him kung lahat ba nang nakakulong doon na merong sakit ay binibigyan ng ganung treatment ang sagot ‘oo’, pero alam nating hindi yun totoo (We asked him if all those who are sick inside the jail were given the same treatment. Their answer is yes, but we all know it is not true),” Paraan said. “Hindi makakamit ang hustisya kung may VIP treatment sa mga kulungan (There can be no justice when there are special treatment in jail).”
Paraan refuted the press release by the Ampatuans that came out in national dailies on March 23 entitled “Freedom of speech and expression is not unlimited”. Paraan said they (Ampatuans) are using the principle of subjudice where they are being told to shut their mouth while the case is in court.
“Dinodoble nila ang victimization dahil binubusalan nila ang pamilya ng mga biktima (Victimization is doubled because they are trying to curtail the freedom of the families’ victims to speak),” Paraan said.
Paraan reported up to now there is no independent recording as to what is happening in court.
“Ang labanan ngayon nasa media na, pero wala kaming pera eh,” wife of one of the journalists Gloria Teodoro said.
“500 days na umiiyak pa rin kami, pero kailangan naming magsalita,” Teodoro said.
“Kung hindi kami magsasalita, kanino kami lalapit? Hanggang ngayon talunan pa rin kami,” Teodoro said.
The victims’ families revealed they have been offered money if not being threatened just to quit the case.
“Buong- buo pa rin kami. Walang umaatras at walang tatanggap sa offer nila,” Reina Fe Momay-Castillo, daughter of one of the victims, said.
An inquest proceeding was conducted three days right after the massacre of 58 people in November 23, 2009. Most of them are journalists who set to cover the filing of the certificate of candidacy to the COMELEC of Toto Mangudadatu who was running for governor in Maguindanao province.
“There was already partial justice, but what we want is complete justice for the victims especially that this is a precedent setting case,” Fiscal Edilberto Jamora said
“These people developed the culture of impunity, that is, they continue doing the crime while the case is being heard causing all these problems,” Jamora said. “I hope there will be unity among you about this case.”
But Jamora assured the families they are trying to do their best for the case. (Russtum G. Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
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