COTABATO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 24, 2013) – “We will never forget!”, the common solidarity line that speaks every placard in the crowd as the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) – Cotabato City Chapter and Sisters Association in Mindanao (SAMIN) commemorated the 4th year of the infamous “Maguindanao massacre” at the Tantawan Park here.
The CEGP, being the strong guild of campus writers and student papers in the Philippines, has been the forefront of youth sector calling for justice for the victims of gruesome killing of 58 people, including 32 journalists and making it the most horrible attack against the media sector and immense political violence in a single day.
The journalists and media workers were covering a political convoy of the Mangudadatu family when they were seized by about 200 gunmen working for a rival political clan, the Ampatuan, and herded them to a remote village where they were brutally killed and some of them buried in a pit.
Most of the accused clan members are now in jail and facing criminal charges, but the slow progress of the cases has been dragging on the past years and media groups and organizations have criticized the Aquino government of not doing its best to give justice to the victims of the massacre and their families.
“We will never forget” on its fourth year is a cultural exhibit of poetry, songs, interpretative dances and manifestos calling to end culture of impunity and human rights violations in the country. The cultural show also participated by various groups here.
In her solidarity message, Sister Dohree Uy, vice chairperson of SAMIN, recognized the outpouring support from the youth and campus journalists who urged the government, especially the judicial department, to ensure justice for the massacre victims and their families.
“As it turned fourth year (on November 23), the more we need strength and courage to continuously call for justice and stand up against impunity so there will be no another Maguindanao massacre” Uy said.
Nasserudin Dunding, editor of The Torch, a member publication of local CEGP chapter, also vowed to continue supporting the campaign to end the culture of impunity and renewed its commitment to strengthen efforts and roles of the CEGP for the advancement, respect and protection of human rights.
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