ALLIANCE NEWS

November 24, 2011

FIL-AMS MARKED 2nd YEAR OF MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE OF 2009 IN LA

Los Angeles—“Justice Delayed is Justice Denied.”

Scores of Filipino Americans attended the photo exhibit and prayer memorial honoring the 58 Maguindanao Massacre victims on November 23, 2009 last Wednesday November 23, 2011at the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) Social Hall in Historic Filipinotown Los Angeles.

The event was organized by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)-US Chapter, the Filipino American Press Club of Los Angeles, Philippine American Press Club, Philippine Press Photographers-USA, Frontliners Media Group and F7, in cooperation with the Alliance Philippines (AJLPP), the Justice for Filipino American Veterans and People’s CORE.

The Photo Exhibit will be on display at FACLA for the next weeks for public viewing from November 25 to December 11, 2011. The exhibit hours are from 11;00 am to 6;00 pm from Monday to Friday.

“Never Forget”

Guest speaker Roy Mabasa, former National Press Club president, choked back tears as he talked about his memories of colleague and friend Bong Reblando, one of the 32 murdered journalists. Mabasa noted that when Reblando was killed he was wearing the same Hawaiian shirt that Mabasa had seen him wearing when Reblando visited him in Manila.

Another speaker, US journalist and author Loren Fleckenstein, said that when his articles angered politicians “my worst fear was losing my job…I never had to worry about losing my life.”

He also said : ‘I stand here humbled by the memory of these journalists who had the courage to risk their lives,” he said.

Myrna Aquintania, President of the Filipino American Press Club of LA opened the program. Rhony Laygo, also spoke about his departed media comrades. Nimfa Rueda and Art Garcia acted as emcees of the two-hour program.

The event, organized by Filipino-American media professionals, was held to mark the second anniversary of the massacre, to remember the victims and demand a speedy delivery of justice and an end to the killings of journalists. Included in the exhibit were the photographs taken by Inquirer photographer Rem Zamora.

‘No respect for life’

Jack Vergara, an 84-year-old World War II veteran and member of the JFAV was angry and disappointed at what he described as an assault on the media people.

“There’s no more respect for the law, and there’s no respect for human life. The government has to be awakened,” said Vergara.

The JFAV Choir sung patriotic hymn "Bayan Ko" while Rhony Lyago sung "Unang Alay" during the candle lighting ceremonies during the 58 minutes of silence for the victims of the massacre.

For more information about the photo exhibit please contact Al P. Garcia at (213) 241-0995 or email at pilipinokami76@yahoo.com.

The swiftness in holding Arroyo accountable should be the "gold standard" in dispensing justice to victims of the Ampatuan massacre

As the country commemorates the 2nd anniversary of the Ampatuan massacre, Akbayan Party calls on the Aquino government to step up its effort to bring the justice to the families and victims of this gruesome crime. Now that the wheels of justice have made huge strides against Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, we should now ensure the same against all those who were given the widest latitude to commit crimes under her term. We cannot expect to call the triumph of justice against Arroyo complete if we cannot say the same against the Ampatuans. An Arroyo conviction, which is the greatest statement of repudiation of Arroyo’s legacy of corruption and impunity, can only be possible with an Ampatuan conviction.

The same speed and determination as the efforts to bring Arroyo to justice must be made in prosecuting and bringing a judgment to this particular case. If the government can exhaust all legal efforts to prevent Arroyo from evading culpability, then it can do the same in preventing the Ampatuans from escaping justice. We have seen the efforts of our government to thwart attempts to derail the people’s battle against corruption, now we must see the same zeal in the battle against warlordism and impunity.

It should not be forgotten that this crime was perpetrated during the term of Arroyo and the criminals who committed it empowered by her. The crimes of Arroyo cannot be divorced from the crimes of the Ampatuans. After all, it was Arroyo who gave them the resources and license to terrorize the citizenry of Maguindanao. It was her impunity and brazen violation of rights that inspired and emboldened the Ampatuans to believe that they are above the law. Their warlordism reflected the same kind of rule that the Arroyo administration dispensed. As much as this is a case against the Ampatuans, this is also a case against Arroyo.

The speedy resolution of the case was promised by President Aquino to the families of the victims. He must stay true to it and ensure that such an atrocity can never happen again. The efforts to realize justice persist but now it must be taken with greater fortitude. The judicious and speedy resolution of the case against the Ampatuans must become a priority of the government. Nothing less than the conviction of those responsible can bring resolution and peace to the families of all 57 victims.

The speed of Arroyo's arrest should be the "gold standard"in dispensing justice to the victims of the Ampatuan massacre.