MAGUINDANAO, Philippines – Eight years later, they continue to search for justice.
Families, including colleagues of the 58 killed in the Ampatuan massacre at Sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman, Ampatuan, Maguindanao, were here on Sunday, November 19, to commemorate the single deadliest election-related violence in the history of the Philippines.
It has been a long trail to justice.
Fr. Ariel Destora, director of social action center of the Diocese of Marbel, said they are with the families and journalists who continue to grieve and seek for true justice.
The priest, who delivered such message during the commemoration mass on Sunday, called out to the government to help in the resolution of the case.
Ranga Kalasnsooriya, advisor for Asia Pacific Affairs International Media Support (IMS), stressed that the Ampatuan massacre “turned the entire safe dimension of journalists upside down.”
“Every safety protocol that we have been doing in the different countries, every safety measure we have been teaching in other countries, the Ampatuan incident changed it and challenged it,” Kalasnsooriya said.
In order to end the reigning impunity and attacks against journalists, the government itself has to come forward and strongly investigate and prosecute.
Jo Clemente, acting vice-chair of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), believes that the resolution of the case — which is to seekthe conviction of those who were responsible for the massacre — will serve as a manifestation that ending the culture of impunity in the country is possible.
Medel V. Hernani / davaotoday.com
Kenneth Paul P. Senarillos / davaotoday.com
GROUND ZERO. Journalists arrive at site of the Ampatuan massacre. They are escorted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.
Robby Joy D. Salveron / davaotoday.com
MEMORIAL MARKER. At least 38 tombstones stand at the memorial marker in Sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman, in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao. This is where the gruesome Ampatuan Massacre took place on November 23, 2009, where at least 58 people, including 32 journalists, were killed.
Medel V. Hernani / davaotoday.com
IN REMEMBRANCE. A man paints the fences anew to prepare the site as families and colleagues of victims are expected to visit the site in time of the eight year commemoration of the bloody Ampatuan massacre. Behind him are tombstones where the victims’ names are written.
Robby Joy D. Salveron / davaotoday.com
COMMEMORATION MASS. Fr. Ariel Destora, director of social action center of the Diocese of Marbel, leads the commemoration mass along with the families of the victims of Ampatuan massacre.
Robby Joy D. Salveron / davaotoday.com
Robby Joy D. Salveron / davaotoday.com
EIGHT YEARS. Families of the victims of the Ampatuan massacre light up candles and offer flowers at the memorial site after the commemoration mass on November 19, 2017.
Medel V. Hernani / davaotoday.com
Robby Joy D. Salveron / davaotoday.com
A FATHER LOST. Princess, sits near a tombstone where the name of her father is written. Princess was only 8 months old when her father, John Caniban, a news reporter of Peryodiko Daily News in Koronadal City was among the 32 journalists who were brutally killed in the tragic incident in Ampatuan massacre.
Medel V. Hernani / davaotoday.com
MONUMENT. A monument was built near the massacre site in remembrance of the 53 victims of the Ampatuan Massacre in November 23, 2009.
Robby Joy D. Salveron / davaotoday.com
PRAYER. A little girl fervently prays after receiving communion during a mass that commemorated those who died in the Ampatuan massacre eight years ago.
Medel V. Hernani / davaotoday.com
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Program and Development Director, Jane Worthington, announces that the scholarship program for the children of the slain victims during the Ampatuan massacre is extended for another year.
Kenneth Paul P. Senarillos / davaotoday.com
