Families of slain Maguindanao journalists rally in front of DOJ
The families of the slain 32 journalists in the Maguindanao Massacre rallied in front of the Department of Justice Tuesday (April 21) to voice their anger and sorrow over Secretary Alberto Agra for his controversial resolution.
The relatives of the victims flew all the way to Manila from Mindanao for the event.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and Atty. Harry Roque Jr., counsel to 13 of the victims’ families, led the rally and candle lighting in front of the Department of Justice (DOJ) as different media organizations and religious groups joined them in their call for Agra to reverse his resolution.
Agra dismissed the multiple murder raps against ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan and Mamasapano Mayor Akmad Ampatuan, both suspects in the November 23 carnage. He instantly gained spotlight as his resolution fueled louder cries and calls for justice by the victims’ families.
The controversial resolution was released on April 18 after Agra concluded that there was no sufficient evidence to include the two Ampatuans in the list of the alleged masterminds of the massacre. Agra sided with Zaldy and Akmad’s alibis that they were not present during the planning of the massacre on Nov. 22 and on the day of the massacre itself, as basis for the dismissal.
Despite the strong and widespread public outrage and criticism his decision met, Agra was quick to defend himself saying he acted without bias.
Juliet Evardo, mother of slain UNTV video editor Jolito Evardo, said she believed justice would not be served for her son and the victims under the present administration.
“Wala kaming ka-pera pera nagbyahe kami dito. Buti pa yung mga abugado, yung mga taong nasa likod namin, sinusuportahan kami sa kahit anong aspeto, emosyonal man o pinansyal. Pero yung gobyerno natin walang suporta,” she said.
She described what her son must have gone through before dying and asked Agra a rhetorical question: What would he do had he been in her situation?
“Kung alam lang ni Agra, kung nakita sana niya. Nakita siguro pero nagbabalewala siya sa pangyayari, sa nakita niya,” she said.
NUJP Director Rowena Paraan promised to give continuing support to the victims’ relatives. “Hindi naming titigilan at pinapangako namin ang lahat ng kaya naming gawin kahit walang day-off,” she said.
Evardo also called on the media to never stop reporting on the development of the case. “Sana po kayong lahat, media din ang pinatay, wag niyong tantanan ito. Kayo lang ang lakas namin para maiabot ang lahat ng aming hinaing, ang hinanakit, ang sakit ng aming nararamdaman,” she said in tears.
Business World Chair and CMFR Board Member Vergel Santos called Agra’s decision “the height of impunity, the height of mockery of justice.” He said the public and the victims’ relatives should “be prepared for a long fight.”
“With a Secretary of Justice like him, who needs injustice? We must be able to build greater and greater massive opposition and continue putting pressure on these people,” he said.
Roque, in agreement with Vergel’s opinion, called the Philippine justice system a “joke”.
The relatives, who are convinced that Arroyo’s administration is biased, expressed hope that the next president of the country will provide them justice.
However, NUJP Director Paraan that a new president is not a guarantee. With the term of Pres. Gloria Arroyo nearing its end as the May 10 polls draws closer, Paraan insisted that the fight for justice for the Maguindanao massacre victims will not end with Arroyo’s term. “Again, hindi automatic na pag wala na si Arroyo sa power ay meron na kaagad hustisya. Kailangan pa rin siyang ipaglaban. Di yan babagsak ng parang galing sa langit. Yan ay pinaglalaban, palagi’t palagi,” she said.
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