PPCO marks Ampatuan Massacre

PPCO marks Ampatuan Massacre

Third Anniversary of massacre in Maguindanao

By Imelda Suzara

Panel of photos of the incident and the victims of the massacre, designed by Alex Felipe

The Philippine Press Club of Ontario (PPCO) and members of the Filipino community marked on Friday, Nov. 23, the third anniversary of the Ampatuan Massacre with a public memorial seeking justice for the victims and demanding swift prosecution of the accused of the 2009 gruesome mass murder.

According to PPCO president Ricardo Caluen, the gathering was to remember media colleagues who have died in the line of duty, especially those who perished in the Maguindanao tragedy.

Rose Tijam, PPCO past president, led other members and event participants in offering flowers and prayers in memory of the 58 people brutally killed on November 23, 2009 in Maguindanao, Philippines.

Held at Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) in the University of Toronto, other ethnic media members attended the event including leaders of various Filipino organizations and advocacy groups such as Community Alliance for Social Justice (CASJ) and Bayan Canada.

Rhea Gamana from the youth group Anakbayan performed a soulful rendition of the song Pahayagan, a song about the state of media and political killings in the Philippines.

Hermie Garcia, editor and publisher of The Philippine Reporter, described the events leading to the massacre and provided updates on the on-going court case where, three years since the start of the arraignment, almost half of the suspects are still at large.

Ricky Caluen, President, Philippine Press Club of Ontario

In a solidarity message to PPCO, Mable Elmore, member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly, said that she condoles with the family and friends of the 58 victims and empathizes with the many others who have also experienced loss because of extrajudicial killings and torture.

“We reiterate our call that the perpetrators of the massacre and other injustices be brought to justice,” Elmore added.

The event was also an occasion to observe the second International Day to End Impunity. “We lock arms today with the many media groups all over the world to show our solidarity as we commemorate the International Day to End Impunity,” said Caluen, expressing the importance of the day to the campaign against impunity around the world.

Calling the massacre as both an attack against human rights and press freedom, PPCO in its official statement called on President Benigno Aquino III to take concrete action against the culture of impunity in the country.

“Action should match rhetoric when he promised during his 2010 electoral campaign to eradicate private armies across the country. Inaction on this serious issue means the President is condoning the existence of these private armies and tolerating their crimes,” the statement read.

PPCO also called on President Aquino’s Liberal Party and Vice President Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) to withdraw their political support to the Ampatuan family members and relatives running for next year’s elections under their parties.

“The two parties’ continued political support for the Ampatuans only means there is no hope for justice to the victims of the massacre and other crimes perpetrated by warlords throughout the country.”