15 years after Maguindanao Massacre, families, NUJP continue to call for justice

Families of victims and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) continued to call for justice as they commemorated the 15th anniversary of the Maguindanao Massacre on Saturday.

''Justice because convictions in the case came a decade after the massacre — that delay is itself a form of injustice — and these are still on appeal, meaning there is a chance that they may yet be reversed,'' the NUJP said in a statement.

''Until final conviction, the families of those whose loved ones were taken on November 23, 2009 will be waiting not just for justice but also for long-needed compensation for the loss of their kin.''

The massacre claimed the lives of 58 people, including 32 journalists who were accompanying the wife of then-Buluan, Maguindanao vice mayor Esmael Mangudadatu and his supporters in filing his certificate of candidacy for governor.

Mangudadatu was then about to go against Andal Ampatuan Jr. in the 2010 gubernatorial race.

In December 2019, the trial court convicted dozens of people, including Andal Ampatuan Jr., former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy Ampatuan, Anwar Ampatuan Sr., Anwar "Ipi" Ampatuan Jr., and Anwar Sajid "Ulo" Ampatuan, and several police officers.

The court also ordered the principal accused to pay hundreds of thousands to millions of pesos in damages and loss of earning capacity to the heirs of each of the victims — except that of photojournalist Reynaldo "Bebot" Momay, the 58th massacre victim whose body was never found.

''But as we call for justice, we face another fight: One for memory. Of the tragic attack, of the people who lost their lives, and of the dangerous conditions that journalists operate under in the Philippines,'' the NUJP said.

''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,'' it added.

''Conditions that would allow violence — against our colleagues and against the public — remain.''

Meanwhile, Mangudadatu said the families of the victims would remain active in calling for justice.

“Mananatili kaming aktibo sa paghingi ng hustisya at sa pagpapaalala sa lahat na hindi tayo dapat manahimik hangga’t hindi napaparusahan ang lahat ng mga sangkot sa Ampatuan massacre. Ang aming laban ay laban ng lahat ng mga Pilipino sa buong Pilipinas. Ito ay paglaban sa karahasan at paglabag sa karapatang pantao,” he said.

(We will remain active in calling for justice and reminding everyone that we should not stop talking about this until all suspects involved in the Ampatuan massacre have been punished. Our fight is the fight of all Filipinos in the Philippines. This is a fight against violence and violations of human rights.)

“Sa pag-alala sa anibersaryong ito, pinararangalan natin ang mga biktima at kanilang mga pamilya, at itinataguyod ang katarungan at proteksyon ng kalayaan sa pamamahayag. Ito ay nagsisilbing paalala ng pangangailangan para sa pananagutan at reporma upang labanan ang karahasan sa politika. Patuloy tayong magsikap para sa isang lipunan kung saan hindi na muling mangyayari ang mga ganitong pangyayari,” he said.

(In commemorating this anniversary, we are honoring the victims and their families, and fighting for justice and the protection of press freedom. This serves as a reminder that there is a need for accountability and reforms to combat political harassment. Let us continue to fight for a nation where these killings cannot happen again.)

“Hinihimok natin ang lahat na panatilihing buhay ang alaala ng mga biktima at suportahan ang mga kilusan na nagtataguyod ng kapayapaan at katarungan sa Pilipinas,” he added.

(We urge everyone to keep the memory of the victims alive and to support movements that promote freedom and justice in the Philippines.)

In Manila, student activists from the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) marched to Mendiola to commemorate the deadliest attack against journalists in the country.

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) said the sacrifice of the massacre victims ''will not be forgotten.''

''We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that justice prevails, and that the Philippines remains a safe place for journalists to work," the PTFoMS said. — Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News