Media groups and journalists call for the resignation of Gloria Arroyo if her government fails to the catch the perpetrators of the Maguindanao massacre and make them accountable for the crime.
Statement of the Nov. 23 Movement
A Challenge of Conscience
The brutal, indiscriminate mass murder on Monday in Ampatuan town, in Maguindanao province, raises the ultimate challenge of conscience. It carries the culture of impunity at work in this country to such levels of horror that, if it remains unpunished for long, can send the nation into an inexorable descent into absolute dehumanization.
The crime thus calls for swift justice, which can only be achieved through a credible and independent process, which in turn can only be achieved without the hand of this government – a government justly mistrusted generally and openly friendly precisely to the very members of the clan accused in the massacre.
We, ourselves colleagues of the more than a score journalists who were killed, demand the following:
One, the creation of a commission outside the government to investigate the crime;
Two, the arrest and prosecution of all the people involved in it in any way, as murderers themselves or their protectors;
Three, the formation of a special court to try the case;
Four, fully guaranteed protection for the witnesses;
Five, the disarming and dismantling of all private armies, such as those evidently employed in the massacre.
Six, the enlistment of persons of unquestioned probity in the whole process;
And finally, the resignation of the government if it fails to deliver such basic satisfaction – indeed, the very same government that has encouraged, by partisanship and conspiracy, the culture of impunity of which the massacre has been the most abominable manifestation.
Signed:
Business World
Center for Community Journalism and Development (CCJD)
Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR)
College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP)
Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists (FFFJ)
National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)
Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI)
Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project (PHRRP)
Philippine Press Institute (PPI)
(The Nov. 23 Movement was formed last Nov. 28 to seek justice to the victims of the Maguindanao massacre. It is composed of media organizations, newspaper publishers, and journalists. For more information, please contact the secretariat: Rorie Fajardo of PHRRP (0905) 3154986 and roriegirl@yahoo.com; Sonny Fernandez (0908) 3259620 and freetosay@gmail.com; Trina Federis of CEGP, (0910) 4803098 and cegphils@gmail.com; and Sweet Cawicaan of CCJD 376-5550)
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
REsignation of the government?
No way!
Ano, bale?
Ngayon pa ba magre-resign si gloring?
Pag nakulong ang putangnang bruhang ‘yan, pati nunal niya ay aalsa sa latay.
Mangingitim siya sa bugbog at magmimistulang naglalakad na may bendang nunal!
Why Andal Ampatuan Jr. thought he could get away with it
Today, Ampatuan sits in a Manila jail awaiting further proceedings. He was persuaded to turn himself in on Thursday by an emissary sent by President Gloria Arroyo herself. Many believe the administration was forced to act because of overwhelming international pressure. The emissary, special advisor Jesus Dureza, accompanied Ampatuan on government aircraft all the way to Manila where, upon parting, Dureza and Ampatuan shook hands and hugged.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/11302009/news3.html
Tangna! Ang kriminal tinatadyakan, hindi niyayakap!
Hi, Tita Migz,
Magsalita ka naman.
Nabading ka na ba talaga?
Takot ka bang talupan ng mga Ampatuan?
nakakatawa talaga ang bayan natin. katagal na nating pinag reresign si ginang arroyo.. wala naman pong nangyayari, pinatatawanan lang tayo, ewan ko kung anung sumpa ang meron sa ating bayan at meron tayong isang ginang arroyo, kasama ang asawa at pamilya niya, pati na ang mga alipores niya at kayang kaya tayong lokohin..pa ano mag reresign siya eh ayon nga sa bagong balita ay tatakbo siyang kinatawan ng 2nd distrito ng pampanga bilang membro ng congesso..!! hay naku..gising na po mga kababayan ko…!!!!
hindi mangyayari ang panawagan ng media, sobrang manhid si aling gloria
Yung mga gutom na gutom na cabalen at wala ng pag asa sa buhay eh pagbabarilin lahat ang mga angkan ng Arroyo at iwanan si Glue at Senior Piggy. Huwag ng imbistigahan or let the justice takes its course, real slow ala pagong. Then kalimutan na lang pagkamatay ng mga angkan after a few years with the Glue and Fat Pig still alive and waiting for justice. It would be something to behold for the millions who are always disenfranchised, always at the very end of the stick, palaging gutom at di man lang maka angat kahit kunti.
Ampatuan Jr. is afraid of ghosts, jail guards say. He should be. There are 57 to 62 crowding in his cell.
Only in the Philipines, worst than Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Ghana,Iraq and the 3-world nations…Bakit kasi pinabayaan ang”Statehood Movement noon “, ngayon hulog-na hulog sa kumonoy na mahirap maintindihan ang mga politikal-kalakaran sa bansang Pilipinas..mabuti pa ang Vietnam, Korea, Taiwan sa ngayon…Pilipinas noon ay di hamak na nango-nguna sa mga bansang nabangit. Dahil sa mga ganid na politiko (lalo na ang GMA),lalong nalunod sa ONDOY ,PEPENG,at AMPATUAN, etc.. ang bansa…Siguro isang lindol na 12-level, titino ang mga politiko sa PINAS…sorry, very frustrating na ang kalagayan sa atin, wala na yatang matinong, kaisipan, MALIBAN, dito sa Ellen blog ( humihingi-humihinga ng pagbabago )…Okay din ang para-ang gina-gawa ni HR Lilia de Lima, sana mag-tagumpay sya..at di maharang ng mga Ampatuans and groups of Company, na “naka-kalat”.
From Robert Balmes:
It is the ultimate test for Arroyo’s administration is she is really serious in upholding the law. If nothing comes out of their so-called investigation, then this must be noted by the people and come election time “maghigante na sila ng todo-todo at iboto ang mga kalaban ng kandidato niya.”
Even the international press is putting pressure on her and it’s a shame if she ignores this call for justice. Talagang makapal at wala ka ng maaasahan sa ganitong tao na sagad sa buto ang kasakiman at kasamaan.
Yan din ang panawagan ko sa galit ko. Na magresign na si Gloria. Pero nung naisip ko na ang papalit ay si Noli, mas delikado dahil hindi lang kaalyado ni Noli ang mga Ampatuan, Kamag-anak pa ng asawa niya (Arlene Fatima Sinsuat)! Si Gov Datu Sajid Ampatuan (kapatid ng prime suspect sa massacre) ay asawa ni Bai Zandria Sinsuat.
Tahimik na rin si Nograles.
Parang nalunok na rin niya ang sariling bayag sa pagapayag na salaulain ng kanyang amo ang Saligang Batas.
Kunsabagay, sino pa nga ba ang magkakampihan kundi silang pareparehong mga halang ang kaluluwa?
Baka nga wala na silang kaluluwa!