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Families of massacre victims seek justice but fear for own safety

By ROMEL REGALADO BAGARES

GENERAL SANTOS CITY.—Sixty-nine-year-old Maura Montaño seethed with anger when she was asked what she thought of the men—no, the monsters—who did terrible things last Monday in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao to her eldest child, Marife “Neneng” Montaño, the 44-year-old editor of the bilingual newsweekly Saksi Mindanaoan, a fledgling four-page publication that, all told, was no older than 12 issues.

“I want justice for my daughter,” she said in her native Cebuano, her narrow, deeply furrowed face twitching. When told what she may be up against, she said it does not matter anymore. No one who does those cruel, inhuman things to kind-hearted persons like her daughter deserves the kind of consideration they’re now getting from the government, she said.

The women who sat around her to comfort the family matriarch as she mourned her daughter’s death at the Collado Memorial Funeral Homes in this city nodded in agreement, their faces etched with sorrow and sympathy.

Click here (VERA Files) to read complete accoun

Published inMediaMindanaoVera Files

4 Comments

  1. “Any murder is reprehensible, but as freedom of expression and press freedom advocates, we are especially appalled by the most recent media reports that at least 28 of those killed in the province of Maguindanao on 23 November 2009 were journalists.”

    47 members of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange.

    Click here for the full statement: http://ifex.org/philippines/2009/11/27/massacre_journalists/

  2. Names of 31 journalists killed in the Maguindanao massacre of 57 people. But there are unconfirmed reports that there is still one from UNTV that was also killed. That would make the total number of journalists killed in that horrible incident 32.

    1. Adolfo, Benjie, Gold Star Daily, Koronadal City

    2. Araneta, Henry, Radio DZRH, General Santos City

    3. Arriola, Mark Gilbert “Mac-Mac,” UNTV, General Santos City

    4. Bataluna, Rubello, Gold Star Daily, Koronadal City

    5. Betia, Arturo, Periodico Ini, General Santos City

    6. Cabillo, Romeo Jimmy, Midland Review, Tacurong City

    7. Cablitas, Marites, News Focus, General Santos City

    8. Cachuela, Hannibal, Punto News, Koronadal City

    9. Caniban, John, Periodico Ini, General Santos City

    10. Dalmacio, Lea, Socsargen News, General Santos City

    11. Decina, Noel, Periodico Ini, General Santos City

    12. Dela Cruz, Gina, Saksi News, General Santos City

    13. Doheilo, Eugene, UNTV, General Santos City

    14. Duhay, Jhoy, Gold Star Daily, Tacurong City

    15. Gatchalian, Jun, Davao City

    16. Legarte, Bienvenido, Jr., Prontiera News, Koronadal City

    17. Lupogan, Lindo, News Media Gazette, Davao City

    18. Maravilla, Ernesto “Bart,” Bombo Radyo, Koronadal City

    19. Merisco, Rey, Periodico Ini, Koronadal City

    20. Momay, Reynaldo “Bebot” Momay, Midland Review, Tacurong City

    21. Montaño, Marife “Neneng,” Saksi News, General Santos City

    22. Morales, Rosell, News Focus, General Santos City

    23. Nuñez, Victor, UNTV, General Santos City

    24. Perante, Ronnie, Gold Star Daily correspondent, Koronadal City

    25. Parcon, Joel, Prontiera News, Koronadal City

    26. Razon, Fernando “Rani,” Periodico Ini, General Santos City

    27. Reblando, Alejandro “Bong,” Manila Bulletin, General Santos City

    28. Salaysay, Napoleon, Mindanao Gazette, Cotabato City

    29. Santos, Gatchalian, Davao City (media affiliation not known)

    30. Subang, Ian, Socsargen Today, General Santos City

    31. Teodoro, Andres “Andy,” Central Mindanao Inquirer, Tacurong City

  3. MPRivera MPRivera

    Hustisya, nasaan ka?

    Bakit kapag pobre ang biktima’y sobrang ilap ka hanggang sa ang lahat ay mabaon na lamang sa limot?

    Bakit kapag maykaya ang salarin ay napakabagal ang pag-usad at parang takot na may pinangingilagan ka?

  4. tru blue tru blue

    “Hustisya, nasaan ka?

    Bakit kapag pobre ang biktima’y sobrang ilap ka hanggang sa ang lahat ay mabaon na lamang sa limot?

    Bakit kapag maykaya ang salarin ay napakabagal ang pag-usad at parang takot na may pinangingilagan ka?” – MPR

    Just look at Tiger Woods! Freaking cops had been waiting for him to talk to them for THREE DAYS. But he’s making statements thru his website. If that was Ordinary Joe, a Swat Team would have used a log to pry open his door and haul his poor ass to jail PRONTO. I like Woods but I love to see him behind bars for even a day or two.

    Poor noypis in Pinas are more likely to have jailtime than privileged ones, it’s just a culture – padrino effect. Very sad.

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