Iloilo journalists, lawyers and activists join Global Day of Action
Journalists, lawyers, and militant groups in Iloilo City join the Global Day of Action caravan to call for justice for the victims of the country's worst election-related violence in Maguindanao which claimed the lives of 57 individuals including 27 journalists.As Congress debated over the fate of Martial Law in Maguindanao, journalists, lawyers, and militant activists in Iloilo City held a caravan yesterday to call for justice for the victims of the country’s worst election-related violence. The caravan was in line with the Global Day of Action over the Maguindanao massacre.
Over a hundred lawyers, journalists and activists in about 20 vehicles participated in the city-wide caravan yesterday, which jumped off from the Provincial Capitol grounds at around 2:30 pm, said Perla Lena, Vice President for Print of the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines.
Yesterday’s caravan is the fourth in a series of activities in reaction to the massacre in Maguindanao, the country’s worst political violence, wherein over 50 unarmed civilians, including journalists and lawyers, were killed by a rival clan. The first was when journalists held a simple candle-lighting ceremony at the grounds of Bombo Radyo-Iloilo; the second was when journalists, lawyers and left-wing activists under the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan lighted candles at the Jaro Cathedral; the third was held Monday evening in front of the Ramon Q. Avancena Hall of Justice by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, and the National Union of People’s Lawyers.
The participants took to the City’s major thoroughfares, seeking justice for the victims of the country’s worst election-related killings in Maguindanao. From the Provincial Capitol, the caravan proceeded to Jaro Plaza, then to the Benigno Aquino Avenue in Mandurriao, then to the City’s central business district, back to the Capitol, Lena said.
Lena said that they had with them a placard calling for a stop to the killing of journalists in the country and for justice to the victims of the Ampatuan, Maguindanao massacre. Members were to sign on the placard.
