Reynaldo Momay, Vice Vulgar

“It took our family 32 months of waiting before the court has officially recognized my father as the 58th victim of the gruesome killing and 42 months before the arraignment of suspects took place,” wrote Ma Reynafe Momay Castillo in her Facebook page.

It’s a bit strange to feel thankful to get confirmation that your father was one of those murdered but it’s definitely a step forward in the search for justice for the victims of the most gruesome crimes that this country has experienced.

Ma. Reynafe’s father was photojournalist Reynaldo “Bebot” Momay. He was included in the list of victims of the Nov. 23, 2009 Maguindanao massacre only last year (July 2, 2012) because his body was never found.

Rowena Paraan, chairperson of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, said Momay’s s name and signature are in a list believed to be the attendance sheet of journalists who joined the ill-fated convoy of the wife of Esmail “Toto” Mangudadatu, now Maguindanao governor, which was waylaid and massacred by the group of Andal Ampatuan, Jr.

“ He is number 21 on the said list. Authorities found his dentures and jacket at the crime scene in Sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman, Ampatuan town,” Paraan said.

Last Wednesday, the 78 suspects in the Maguindanao massacre were arraigned in the murder of Momay.

Ma Reynafe wrote: “I was deeply saddened by the recent news that 78 of the arraigned suspects in the killing of my father have pleaded “Not Guilty” before the court. While I expected this move from them, it is still alarming to realize that these accused have been trying to escape from the rule of law as they pleaded the same thing to the 57 victims of the Ampatuan-Maguindanao massacre. I wish I was there to look at their faces and eyes as they filed their plea.

“It took our family 32 months of waiting before the court has officially recognized my father as the 58th victim of the gruesome killing and 42 months before the arraignment of suspects took place. While it was long overdue, I did not stop pursuing the case against the suspects. I am thankful to my lawyers for their untiring assistance to my case. We always say that justice delayed is justice denied. Despite the years of waiting, I remain hopeful and pray that justice will soon be served for the 58 lives lost in the massacre and their families, including more than a hundred of children and orphans who were traumatized and haunted by the killing. Patience is a virtue of justice. In God’s own time and perfect timing, I still believe that justice will be served for the 58. They will have justice here on earth and in heaven. God sees the hearts and tears of the widows and orphans and thus He will answer their prayers. It’s a promise, and I will claim that promise until the end.”

We, the members of Philippine media, share the frustrations of the families of the victims. But we have no recourse but to persevere until we obtain justice.
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GMA-7’s Jessica Soho has good reasons to doubt the sincerity of the so-called public apology of ABS-CBN’s host Vice Ganda. (Ganda does not fit him.) He is Vice Vulgar.

“I sincerely hope and pray that this was done with the purest intentions and determination to put this issue behind us,”Soho said conducting herself with dignity all throughout this controversy.

His non-apology smacked of arrogance and bitchiness. He even had the gall to say, “Sa lahat ng mga nagsalita sa akin ng masama, lalo na ‘yung hindi nakapanood at nakaparinig lang, okay lang. Kung hindi niyo ako naunawaan, ako ang uunawa sa inyo. Siya pa ngayon ang mag-uunawa.”

Siya pa ngayon ang mag-uunawa. Ang kapal talaga.

As Lorenzo Leviste said in Facebook: “The Horse With No Shame.”

Here are some reactions to Vice Vulgar’s non-apology in Facebook:

Daphne Ceniza said,“Definitely no remorse at all and the tone is a bit patronizing.”

Ernie Reyes: Hindi ko naramdaman ang kahit gahiblang sinseridad sa kanyang paghingi ng paumanhin bagkus nagyabang pa sa bandang huli sa pagsasabing ‘Sa hindi nakakaintindi, ako na lamang ang iintindi sa inyo’ which was for me rude.

To Itty Gaerlan, it was a“ half-assed apology that barely acknowledges his mistake to Jessica Soho. Yet his take on rape, his trivializing this, offended not only Ms. Soho–but the millions of silent, voiceless victims of gender-based violence, and their advocates.”

She extended an invitation to Vice Vulgar: “Halika, vice ganda-gandahan, pakikilala kita sa ilan sa mga biktima. Harapin mo sila at saka mo i-deliver ‘yang ‘”You-can-never-please-everyone’ spiel mong ‘yan.”

Vice Vulgar said in an online news report that he and the ABS-CBN bosses have decided that his concert tour will proceed despite the controversy. There are two things those enraged with Vice Vulgar can do: boycott and picket his shows.