FIFTY-EIGHT dead, five years, zero justice.
This, in a nutshell, is the Ampatuan Massacre case as journalists and press freedom advocates prepare to mark the fifth year of the deadliest single attack on reporters and media workers across the globe.
Almost half a decade after 58 people were slain – 32 of them journalist and media workers – the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) launched on Monday the planned activities to commemorate the massacre.
“Five years of loss and of a search for justice that remains elusive as if it, too, was buried but was not exhumed in the pit in which madmen believed they could bury all evidence of their orgy of blood,” says Rowena Paraan of NUJP | Photo by Cong. B. Corrales
“Six days from today, the families, friends and colleagues of the 58 mercilessly slaughtered on a hilltop in Sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman, Ampatuan, Maguindanao will mark five years of loss and of a search for justice that remains elusive as if it, too, was buried but was not exhumed in the pit in which madmen believed they could bury all evidence of their orgy of blood,” said NUJP national chair Rowena Paraan.
Paraan lamented that the stream of issues competing for the public’s attention—from ebola to the alleged hacienda of the vice president—have contributed to the diminished public interest in the case and have disheartened families of the victims.
“The purpose of this continuing campaign is to remind the people of the massacre and that five years have passed but justice remains elusive,” Paraan said.
INFOGRAPHIC by Cong. B. Corrales
Paraan said that of the 197 persons accused with multiple murder before Branch 221 of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City, 28 bear the Ampatuan surname, including clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr., former ARMM Governor Zaldy Ampatuan and former Datu Unsay town mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr.
As of Monday, there have been 111 arrested and arraigned but 89 of the accused still remain at large.
Paraan said that the Ampatuan massacre trial, which started in January 2010, has been characterized by word wars between prosecutors, delaying tactics by defense lawyers, bribery accusations and abject lack of updates for the families of victims.
“The prosecution presented a total of 152 witnesses. Since the trial started, at least three possible witnesses have been killed,” added Paraan.
Meanwhile, at least 33 more journalists have been killed after the massacre, Paraan pointed out, which only reflects government’s unfulfilled and broken promises of justice, of respect for basic rights and freedoms, and of good governance.
Among the activities lined-up for the commemoration this year include an International Solidarity Mission with delegates representing the International Federation of Journalists-Asia Pacific Office, National Union of Journalists-Malaysia, Southeast Asia Journalists Union, Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance-Australia, and the Southeast Asian Press Alliance.
REPORTERS and media workers watch the public service announcement of NUJP during its public launch last November 17, 2014 in Quezon City, Philippines to mark the fifth year of the Ampatuan Massacre | Photo by Cong B. Corrales
The schedule of activities are as follows:
November 19: Arrival in Manila of foreign delegates for the International Solidarity Mission
November 20: Arrival in General Santos City of International Solidarity Mission
November 21: Massacre site visit by 8 a.m. and meeting with Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu at 3 p.m.
November 22: Arrival in Manila, meeting with Justice Sec. Leila De Lima at 2 p.m.
November 23: Press Conference at 9 a.m. and unveiling of installation art at Bantayog ng mga Bayani and lighting of candles at EDSA Shrine by 5 pm.
November 24: Meeting with Task Force Usig head, Colonel Henry Libay at Camp Crame at 10 a.m.
The NUJP also launched a public service announcement produced by the Philippine Integrated Advertisement Agency (PIAA), with editorial supervision of the NUJP.
“Six days from today, we will look back and see how five years of corruption and apathy have conspired to thwart not only justice for the Ampatuan 58 but allowed the impunity with which journalists, activists, lawyers, environmentalists, farmers, indigenous people, religious and other whose only crime is to exercise their right to free expression continue to be murdered,” the NUJP statement reads. – Cong B. Corrales