Student organizations in PUP commemorated the 11th anniversary of the tragic Maguindanao Massacre through an online protest with the theme: “Impunity Breeds Impunity” on Monday, November 23.
Led by Laban PUP and the PUP-COC Student Council, the protest aimed to highlight the youth’s call for action to fight against impunity and injustice in the current administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, and to defend press freedom.
“Sa ikalabing-isang taon ng ating pag-alala sa Maguindanao Massacre, ating kinukundena at tinututulan ang kaliwa’t kanang atake sa kalayaan ng pamamahayag, ng ating karapatan sa pagpapahayag at pag-oorganisa, at gayundin laban sa karahasan at pagka-pasista ng estado,” stated by Laban PUP in a facebook post.
Via Facebook live, representatives from each organization stood firm in their position against the gruesome killing of journalists, politicians, and civilians in Ampatuan, Maguindanao 11 years ago, and the current oppression of the Philippine media, as well as other prevalent social and sectoral issues.
“Nariyan pa rin ang iba’t ibang mga porma ng inhustisya at pang-aabuso ng estado sa kapangyarihan nito. Patayan sa mga lansangan sa likod ng maskara ng War on Drugs, pagdanak ng dugo ng mga magsasaka at manggagawa, pagsisikil sa boses ng kabataan at sa panahon kung saan dapat itinutuon ng administrasyong Duterte ang kanilang pansin sa kung papaano iangat ang pamumuhay ng mga Pilipino mula sa epekto ng pandemya at mga sakuna ay mas inuuna nito ang pag-atake sa oposisyon, kritikal na masa at midya,” expressed Neilvin Aventurado, representative from PUP-SPEAK.
Those who attended the tribute appealed for justice and bringing of the rest of the accused to trial, further protection of journalists from the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), ABS-CBN franchise renewal, rejection of Anti-Terror Law, and for Duterte and his allies to step down their position.
The event also showcased the 17 music video entries from last year’s PUP Broadcircle’s Music Video Festival with the theme: “ “ALPAS: Pakikibaka sa Ngalan ng Malayang Pamamahayag.”
About the tragedy On November 23, 2009, 58 individuals, including 32 media personnel and journalists, were killed and buried in mass graves on a hilltop by members of an armed group led by members of the Ampatuan family on Sitio Masalay, Maguindanao.
Investigations arrived at the conclusion of the motive to be election-related violence given that among those who were killed include the wife and other female relatives of then Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael “Toto” Mangundadatu – political rival of the Ampatuans – who were on their way to file his Certificate of Candidacy in Shariff Aguak.
It was only in December last year – a decade after the massacre – when members of the Ampatuan Clan led by Andal Jr and Zaldy Ampatuan, along with 26 others, were proven guilty for 57 counts of murder as of the verdict handed down by Quezon City Branch 221 Presiding Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes and were sentenced with life imprisonment. However, 56 others, including Datu Sajid Islam Ampatuan, were acquitted; and about 80 suspects are still at large, some are police officers and soldiers.
Article: Angelo Francisco Photo: Screenshot from Laban PUP Stream
Comments