HEAVY rains from Tropical Depression Verbena on Monday, Nov. 24, did not stop reporters and students from commemorating the 16th anniversary of the Ampatuan Massacre, the worst election-related violence in the country that left 58 people dead, including 32 journalists.
With the city placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1, about 25 journalists and students moved their rally from the Press Freedom Park to the Cagayan de Oro Press Club boardroom.
There, they lit candles and listened to Catherine Nuñez, mother of Victor Nuñez, the 22-year-old UNTV reporter who was among the 32 journalists killed.
“I am glad to see you supporting us all these years. You never stopped the quest for justice for the victims,” the elder Nuñez said.
Victor Nuñez was reportedly among the first killed in the first volley of gunfire from the Ampatuan political clan’s gunmen. His mother said her son’s body was riddled with 20 gunshot wounds.
“I still remember how my son looked after he died. That picture of his bullet-riddled body in my mind drove me to seek for justice,” she added.
Andal Ampatuan Jr., former governor of the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and his brother, Zaldy Ampatuan Jr, were convicted for the massacre in December 2019.
The mastermind, Andal Ampatuan Sr., who also served as governor of the then-undivided Maguindanao province, died of liver cancer while in detention before the trial was concluded.
Their families have appealed their conviction before the Court of Appeals.
CenterLaw Philippines filed a petition before the appellate court Monday to resolve the petitions without delay. They also reiterated judicial recognition for the 58th victim, Reynaldo ‘Bebot’ Momay, a news photographer who remains missing to this day.
Lawyer Beverly Selim-Musni of the Union of People’s Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM) also demanded the swift resolution of the appeals in the CA and warned that the system of political dynasties that breed impunity is still well-entrenched in the country.
Musni bewailed that the UPLM lost two of its members, lawyers Connie Brizuela and Cynthia Oquendo Ayon, in the massacre.
“We continue to remember and mourn the two lawyers who were brutally killed that day,” Musni said.
Steph Bergano, a journalist from Misamis Oriental Radyo, urged colleagues and station owners not to put the lives of their reporters at risk in pursuit of a story.
“Protect your reporters against attacks. Be it cyber bullying or attacks from government agencies,” Bergano said.
The activity concluded Monday night with a Mass celebrated by the Rev. Der John Paborada of the Cagayan de Oro Archdiocese.
