Maguindanao massacre victims’ families, journalists mark 15 years of injustice

MANILA, Philippines – Fifteen years after the events of the Ampatuan massacre, the victims’ families and media groups reflected on the traumatic experiences of the 2009 incident during a series of activities held in multiple parts of the country on Saturday, November 23.

On Saturday afternoon, members of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and campus publications in Metro Manila marched with the victims’ relatives from the gates of the University of Santo Tomas to Mendiola Bridge.

Their sentiments highlighted the wide-scale impunity enjoyed by political clans and corrupt officials and the injustice felt by the families.

Erlyn Umpad, the widow of Mc Delbert Arriola — one of the media workers killed in the massacre — broke down crying, trying to remember the last days they spent with their loved one. 

“Gusto lang nila makahanap ng maibalita ngunit sila ‘yung naging balita (They only wanted to look for news but they ended up becoming the news),” Umpad said in a speech.

The widow lamented the slow process of the judicial system in handling their cases against the Ampatuan clan, which concocted the events that led to the deaths of 58 individuals, 32 of whom were media workers.

In December 2019, Judge Jocelyn Solis Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 found Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr., Zaldy Ampatuan, and others guilty of 57 counts of murder. 

However, while 44 suspects, including members of the Ampatuan clan, have already been convicted, 88 other suspects remain free from the consequences.

Harmful conditions remain

“Fifteen years since the massacre, warlords still exist in some provinces and have virtually free rein in their areas as long as they ensure supposed peace and order and development for the national government,” the NUJP said in its statement.

According to the organization, prevailing conditions allowed violence to flourish and pressure reporters, especially those in the region, from shedding more light on important issues. 

The NUJP listed threats of legal cases such as libel and terrorism-related cases under the “pressures” thrown against media workers, rights defenders, advocates, and even religious missionaries.

“As we mark the 15th year since the Ampatuan massacre, our promise is to never forget, but just as important is our promise to each other and the media community to work to make sure that nothing like that happens again,” the NUJP said.

Solidarity

In Cagayan de Oro City, members of the press united with the departed’s relatives gathered at the Press Freedom Monument — the site of the annual Maguindanao massacre anniversary gatherings and created by the late artist Eduardo Castrillo.

Cathy Nuñez, the mother of slain media worker and UNTV reporter Victor Nuñez, spoke to journalists to honor his memory.

Earlier on Thursday, November 21, Visayas-based journalists visited the site of the incident at Barangay Salman in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao del Sur, to light candles and offer prayers to the victims.

In a statement, the Negros Press Club said they were one with media groups in the country in commemorating the 15th anniversary of the incident.

“Fifteen years hence, we continue to pay tribute to our colleagues who lost their lives in the Ampatuan massacre,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, journalists from Benguet held a candle-lighting ceremony and laid down a bouquet of white roses at Burnham Park Lagoon in Baguio City, calling for justice for the victims of the massacre. – Rappler.com