The fight continues

by Monica Joy Cantilero, Jenny de Venecia and Christine Joy Sarmiento

The families of the victims of  the Nov. 23 Ampatuan massacre marked the fifth month since the killings took place by pledging to continue their fight for justice despite threats and the dismissal of multiple murder charges  against two members of the powerful Ampatuan clan.

Acting Secretary of Justice Alberto Agra ordered the dropping of the charges against Zaldy and Akmad Ampatuan last April 16 allegedly for lack of evidence.

“Hindi po kami sang-ayon sa desisyon [ni Sec. Agra] (We do not agree with Sec. Agra’s decision),” said Jovelyn Duhay-Villacastin, sister of Gold Star Daily correspondent Jose “Jhoy” Duhay, during an interfaith service held April 21 in Manila.

“Hindi kami papayag na makalabas silang dalawa (Zaldy and Akmad Tato Ampatuan).  Ang hinihiling po namin ngayon, sana mapabilis ang takbo ng kaso… Sana umalis na lang siya sa tungkulin ngayon (We will oppose their release. We want the quick resolution of the case. Sec. Agra should resign).”

Editha Tiamzon, widow of UNTV driver Daniel Tiamzon, said, “Lalabas kami sa kalsada at hindi lang dito ‘yan, hanggang sa ibang bansa dahil [nakikinita] namin dito na wala talagang magiging justice sa amin (We will go out into the streets, not just here in the Philippines, but also abroad, because we foresee that there will be no justice for us here).”

”Kung hindi kami, sino? Kung hindi ngayon, kailan kami magsasalita (If it’s not us, who? If it’s not now, when will we speak up)?” said Noemi Parcon, widow of Prontiera News publisher Joel Parcon.

Since the massacre, Myrna Reblando, widow of slain Manila Bulletin reporter Alejandro “Bong” Reblando, said her family has been receiving various threats. She said an unfamiliar black car would park for hours in front of their house. “Puwede nila akong patayin, pero ‘di nila ako kayang takutin (They can kill me but they cannot scare me),”she said.

There have also been numerous attempts to bribe the victims’ families, Reblando said. Some offers amount to as high as P5 million in exchange for their withdrawal from the case against the perpetrators.

“Hindi kami mukhang pera. Hindi kami [nabili] (We are not greedy for money. We were not bought),” Reblando said.

The interfaith service focused on Secretary Agra’s decision to drop the multiple murder charges against suspended Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Maguindanao Vice Gov. Akmad Ampatuan due to alleged lack of evidences that the two were part of the conspiracy to kill 57 people including 32 journalists.

According to Sec. Agra, the two Ampatuans’ alibi that they were not in  Ampatuan town on the day of the massacre showed that they were not involved. Zaldy Ampatuan provided airline tickets and mobile phone bills as proofs of his absence in Maguindanao on November 23, 2009, while Akmad Tato Ampatuan presented witnesses verifying that he was on a medical mission at that time.

At least 57 people, including 32 journalists/media practitioners, were abducted and murdered last Nov. 23, 2009 in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao. The 32 journalists/media workers joined the convoy of the Mangudadatus to cover the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy of Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu for the governorship of Maguindanao, said to be the bailiwick of the powerful Ampatuans. The body of one journalist, Reynaldo “Bebot” Momay, has not been found, but Momay is presumed dead.

Tragedy changed lives

Fr. Arnold Abelardo, who counseled some of the victim’s families, said that the tragedy has changed the families in one way or another.

“Myrna Reblando was just a quiet housewife. She used to always stay at home. But after the massacre, she stood up, got out and I think she is one of best speakers you have seen. The killings brought out the best in them,” he said in Filipino.

Fr. Abelardo lauded the prosecutors who protested Agra’s decision to clear the charges against the two Ampatuans in the controversial massacre. “I think these prosecutors are good Filipinos. They have the capacity and they really have a heart for the country,” he said in Filipino.

The priest called the prosecutors “heroes” for their selfless act. “Hindi sila nag-alala sa mga status ng kanilang career, kundi mas [inalala] nila na gawin ang tama. ‘Yan ang dapat matutunan ng buong bansa. Ano ba ‘yung tama? ‘Yun ang ating gawin kahit ano pa ‘yung consequences. (They did not worry about their careers but instead, opted to do the right thing. That is what the whole country should learn. What is the right thing? That is what we should do no matter what the consequences are).”

The state prosecutors walked out of the Department of Justice April 19, after challenging Sec. Agra’s decision absolving the two Ampatuans. The acting secretary issued the resolution April 16, one day after assuring the victims’ families that he would carefully review the two Ampatuans’ petition.

DOJ Chief State Prosecutor Claro Arellano told the press last April 20 that “We are deeply concerned that the resolution will all the more convince a long skeptical public that our criminal justice system is impotent when the accused are politically influential.”

Lawyer Harry Roque of the Center for International Law (CenterLaw), who is representing 13 of the victims’ families, said Agra ignored the evidence for the two Ampatuans’ involvement.

Roque said  the multiple murder case could not push through because of the many motions filed by the Ampatuans. “Hindi naman matuloy-tuloy, dahil ‘sangkatutak na petition for review at mga hadlang ang nilagay ng mga Ampatuan para nga hindi umusad ang proseso (It can’t push through because of the numerous petitions for review and the obstacles that the Ampatuans have resorted to),” he said.

Rowena Paraan, director of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, said Agra’s decision shows that even if you kill 57 people, you can now avoid trial and imprisonment because you are close to the president.”

Paraan added, “Impunity exists in the Philippines. If you give Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, you can get out of jail. If you give her 12-0, you can get out of jail.” Paraan was referring to the 2004 elections, in which Mrs. Arroyo won overwhelmingly in Maguindanao, and to the 2007 elections, when her 12 senatorial candidates all won in the same province.

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