Cries for justice ring out from Maguindanao
AMPATUAN, Maguindanao – The first year anniversary of the country’s worst election-related violence and the worst violence against the media was commemorated yesterday at the massacre site with relatives of the victims reiterated calls for speedy trial and justice.
Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, whose wife, Jenalyn, was among those killed in the massacre, has appealed for a speedy prosecution of the culprits, among them Andal Ampatuan, Jr., his supposed rival in the May 10 gubernatorial race in the province.
Relatives of slain journalists took turns in expressing their grief and cried for justice to their loved ones as local officials, journalists from various parts of the country offered prayers at the strike of 10:30 a.m., at about that time the massacre was taking place exactly a year ago today.
The 58 people who perished in the massacre, 32 of them journalists, were on their way to the provincial capitol in nearby Shariff Aguak town to file for Mangudadatu’s certificate of candidacy.
Accompanying them were Mangudadatu’s wife, lawyers, and women relatives when about 100 heavily armed private militia, backed by policemen, flagged them down and brought them to a hill in Sitio Masalay, Brgy. Salman which turned out to be their graves.
The journalists retraced the route from Tacurong City to the massacre site with relatives in tears amid humid wind and excruciating heat.
Mangudadatu, speaking during the occasion, urged residents in Maguindanao to help the police monitor the movements of other suspects who remained at large.
He said the members of his family are wishing for a speedy trial of the massacre case that involves members of Ampatuan clan.
Describing his victory during this year’s election was “paid with blood and pain” and vowed to dedicate his term to the victims of the massacre.
Admitting it was hard for him to forgive the culprits, Mangudadatu reiterated his earlier vow not to subject to harassment or persecution the Ampatuans who have nothing to do with the massacre.
Mangudadatu said he wants all of the suspects in the massacre that are still on the run placed behind bars.
About 113 of the 196 people accused in the crime remained at large and have been wanted by laws.
Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, who came to the site yesterday morning, vowed to focus most of her time in the prosecution of people implicated in the carnage.
De Lima said she would treat any failure in the prosecution of the suspects as her personal failure.
To ensure safety of the participants in today’s activity, four Army battalions were deployed in a four kilometer radius from the massacre site.
Mangudadatu said the site will be transformed into a tourist spot with the marker bearing the names and pictures of victims as attraction.
He said this way the victims will never be forgotten.*PNA
