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Statement of GMA Network on the Maguindanao massacre


We are no longer who we were before Monday. In the annals of political violence in the Philippines, there have been no parallels to the slaughter that occurred on the lonely road to Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao on November 23. 57 unarmed civilians all, the majority of whom were media professionals, most of the victims were enroute to perform basic functions in a civilized democracy: the Mangudadatu women were to file certificates of candidacy; the lawyers were to provide legal advice; and the journalists were to bear witness on behalf of the public and to report on an important event without fear or favor. All of these roles are essential for a political system where power is meant to be transferred without violence. What met them in a town recently renamed Ampatuan was the exact opposite: a force and mentality that invoked the barbarity of more primitive times. The crime that occurred in Ampatuan was uniquely savage, but it was also an extreme example of the violent tendency in our politics. At the other extreme are the many citizens who are bravely committed to the difficult and complex process of peacefully deciding who our leaders should be, such as those souls who perished on Monday. It is this tension between savagery and peaceful process that has marked our electoral history. Those are the most critical choices in 2010. Much will depend on how the government reacts in the coming days. For what is emerging is evidence that the assailants were not outside the law but part of the political machinery of local officials backed by the Arroyo administration. The President so far has ordered a thorough investigation and declared a state of emergency in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, and Cotabato City. Philippine National Police Director General Jesus Verzosa has relieved six PNP officials in Maguindanao. We trust that this is just the beginning of a series of actions that will bring all of the perpetrators to justice, including the warlords who orchestrated this bloodbath. If they are permitted to escape harsh punishment, it will clearly be a vote for barbarity and for the other savage armies prepared to assault our maiden automated elections. As we wait for action, we grieve. We grieve for the believers in a democratic system who paid with their lives. We grieve for the martyred journalists who believed the Constitutional protection of their rights was enough. By travelling without arms to perform their democratic duties in hostile territory, the 57 made their choice. We honor their example and sacrifice, as their fate continues to chill our bones. As fellow believers, we could have easily been them. The statement in Filipino as read by Jessica Soho on 24 Oras on November 25, 2009: Walang kahalintulad sa ating kasaysayan ang karahasan sa pulitikang naganap nitong araw ng lunes sa Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao. Ang mga biktima - mga babaeng Mangudadatu na magsusumite ng certificate of candidacy, mga abogadong magbibigay ng payo at mga taga-media na dapat ay magiging saksi at magbabalita. Lahat sila'y may ginagampanang papel sa demokrasya, pero sa lugar na kailan lamang ay tinawag na Ampatuan, dahas ang kanilang dinanas, na wala nang paglulugaran sa panahong ito. Ang kahindik-hindik na krimen ay mapait na halimbawa sa klase ng pulitika na mayroon tayo. Sa kabilang banda, nariyan ang mga mamamayan na lakas loob na naninindigan na maipatupad ang tahimik at matiwasay na pamamaraan upang makapili ng mga magiging pinuno ng bayan. Ang tunggaliang ito ng dahas at kapayapaan ay lutang na lutang kada panahon ng eleksyon. Ito ang mga kritikal na pagpipilian natin sa 2010 -- karahasan ba o' kapayapaan? Iniutos na ng presidente ang agarang imbestigasyon at nagdeklara ng state of emergency sa mga probinsya ng Maguindanao at Sultan Kudarat, at sa Cotabato City. Anim na pulis ang sinibak sa posisyon. Umaasa kaming umpisa pa lamang ito, ng mga aksyong magtatapos sa paghuli sa mga taong nagsagawa ng krimen, ordinaryong tao man o kinatatakutang warlord sa probinsiya. Kung sila'y hindi pagbabayarin sa pagkakasalang ito, katumbas nito ang pagkasira ng kauna-unahang automated elections ng bansa. Habang kami'y naghihintay ng hustisya, kami'y magluluksa. Magluluksa para sa mga naniniwala sa demokrasya subalit nabiktima ng karahasan. Magluluksa para sa mga taga-mediang namatay na naniwalang sapat na ang konstitusyon upang silang maprotektahan. Sa kanilang paglalakbay ng walang armas sa mga lugar na walang kasiguruhan, nagtiwala ang mga biktima sa kapayapaan. Aming kinikilala ang kanilang sakripisyo, habang ang kanilang sinapit ay mapait na ala-ala para sa lahat. Ang kanilang sinapit ay maaaring naging kapalaran din namin. - GMANews.TV

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