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The Ampatuan Massacre is a key issue in the Filipino people’s struggle against the culture of impunity that has afflicted the country for so long. A decision favourable to the masterminds and killers will encourage more killings of and human rights violations against journalists, activists, and other sectors.
Members of the End Impunity Alliance, AlterMidya, a national network of alternative media outfits and the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication will hold a protest march around the university’s academic oval on Nov. 21.
“Aquino is wrong in saying that the killings are not work-related. These journalists were killed for their work, not because of a love triangle or any other reason.” – Luis Teodoro
“Rather than demonstrating the government’s sincerity in seeing the trial to a credible conclusion, the ban [on media coverage] provokes suspicions that concealing vital information from the public is in progress.” – Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists
“Our criminal justice system will be measured by how we faired [in this case], and if we don’t get the conviction of those guilty simply because of the mis-appreciation of the facts of the case, perhaps mismanagement of the prosecution of the case, or underestimating the defense, we have to answer not only to the families of the 58 massacre victims but to the Filipino people.”
“As military generals, those who murder and torture, get promoted and plunderers of the nation’s coffers receive special treatment in jail, the Aquino government is on full blast promoting impunity.” – Karapatan
"We are frustrated with the slow pace of the trial. It is disheartening that justice lies in the hands of those who are powerful, yet, they are not doing anything about it.” – CEGP-Ilocos Sur
“In this [Ampatuan] case, our criminal justice system is not working. The much-needed reforms in our institutions never happened.” Harry Roque, lawyer for the families of 14 victims
“How long will the trial take? 10 years? 20 years? We are getting old.” – Maria Cipriana Gatchalian, 61, widow of journalist Santos P. Gatchalian Jr.
RELATED STORY | Kin of Ampatuan massacre victims seek UN help
By LUIS V. TEODORO Vantage Point | BusinessWorld It's been four years since the Ampatuan Massacre of November 23, 2009, and three years since Benigno Aquino III assumed the Presidency. The hearings on the petitions for bail of 63 persons out of the 108 accused of...
"The [Ampatuan massacre] case is an encapsulation of 'justice delayed, justice denied.'" – Dean Roland Tolentino, UP College of Mass Communications
There is a simple explanation to call President Aquino the country’s “Impunity King”: He allows the perpetuation of the culture of impunity as he has not done anything to end it
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL Bulatlat.com I will not forget that day of Nov. 23, 2009 when the news broke out that 58 individuals were reportedly killed on their way to accompany the Genalyn Tiamzon-Mangudadatu, wife of then Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu,...
Mrs. Salaysay, widow of slain journalist Napoleon Salaysay, expressed hope that the Filipino people would not forget the Ampatuan massacre.
“I am sad but also happy to know that many people continue to support our fight for justice.” – widow of Ampatuan massacre victim
MANILA – Journalists from various media outfits commemorated the 42nd month of the Ampatuan massacre, May 23, at the National Cathedral of St Mary and St John in Quezon City. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) mounted an exhibit titled...
Various media organizations, progressive groups and the academe commemorated the third anniversary of the Ampatuan Massacre that claimed the lives of 58 individuals, of whom 32 are media workers. Photos by POM CAHILOG-VILLANUEVA, RONALYN V. OLEA, ANNE MARXZE D....
By SIDLANGAN NATIVIDAD Bulatlat.com MANILA– Student journalists from different student publications under the banner of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines-NCR (CEGP) held a protest action in front of the Mendiola Peace Arch a day before the November 23...
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“Taken together, the acts of commission and omission by the Aquino administration betray sheer lip service to justice and press freedom, and a dangerous tendency to sacrifice both to the exigencies of power.” – media groups
Related story Students journalists mark 3rd year of massacre
By BULATLAT STAFF
On the 3rd anniversary of the Ampatuan massacre, justice remains elusive for the victims. Groups deem that the Aquino administration has failed to curb impunity.
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