Guilty verdict towards Ampatuan, et al.:
A step in the struggle for justice against impunity
At first, this writer, as any other concerned, welcomes the conviction of key Ampatuan clan members and several others implicated for the November 23, 2009 massacre.
That for so many years this call for justice is long overdue but with their guilt has become official, this decision by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QCRTC) is a step into attaining justice for the victims of this bloody carnage against journalists, lawyers, and those who oppose Datu Andal Ampatuan, his brothers, and their rule over Maguindanao and in the former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
It is also one of the incidents during the Arroyo administration, whose support for Ampatuan on the basis of curbing the Moro struggle has further condoned feudal warlordism in the region.
But despite the decision given, this is not a time to celebrate for the decision of the QCRTC is not yet final until the Supreme Court uphelds this in finality. But this decision by the court is in itself a significant and landmark step in proving the guilt of this Magindanaoan warlord, and along with its minions involved in this bloody carnage, being the worst single attack against journalists in the world and the worst single election-related violence in the country.
And because of this, this writer, being in one with the concerned, hath laud the families of the 58 victims for standing on their ground, that by never giving up and succumbing to threats, bribes and harassment, all in fighting for justice for their martyred loved ones.
But the convictions and indemnification towards Ampatuan and its gang of murderers can never bring back the lives of its victims and erase the pain of the families who lost their loved ones. Furthermore, this also doesn't stop the vigilance as people lament that 55 of the accused including some key Ampatuan clan members were acquitted, while least 80 of those accused also remain elusive from the hands of justice.
And also to think that the conviction of the key accused is also due to the unity and steadfastness of various sectors who sympathised, of human rights groups, legal organisations, youth, students, and especially Filipino media workers and its groups around the country and abroad who have actively supported the cause for justice, sustaining its campaign and efforts all for the past 10 years to make sure that this tragic November 23 massacre will never be forgotten and that justice be realised no matter how long and hard it takes.
But despite this decision hope that the people should not content, but instead continue to seek truth from facts, of assert further justice against the scoundrels who trying to use their position for their infamy, and must continue to maintain vigilance until the last of those responsible are to face their fate.