Ampatuan victim's widow calls on Arroyo for justice

Two months after the Ampatuan massacre in Maguindanao, a widow of one of the victims, and journalist groups supporting their families, called on President Arroyo to satisfy the cry for justice before she steps down of office. “Sana bigyan niya po ng pansin para bago po man lang siya bumaba sa kanyang pwesto, mayroon po siyang magawang maganda sa mga journalists na nabibiktima po dahil lang sa gahaman sa kapangyarihan. Justice now!" said Editha Tiamson, widow of driver Daniel Tiamson who worked for UNTV General Santos, during the candle lighting ceremony on Saturday led by the November 23 Movement (N23M). The N23M is composed of various journalists’ groups seeking justice for the Ampatuan massacre victims. Tiamson was among the 32 journalists slain in the massacre. Tiamson’s widow Editha, who attended the Saturday ceremony held at the College of Mass Communications at the University of the Philippines Diliman campus, expressed gratitude to the journalist groups for their support in fighting for justice. “Kung hindi dahil sa inyo, siguro wala nang boses ang mga na-massacre doon," she said. N23M spokesperson Carlos Conde also challenged Arroyo to take a proactive role in delivering swift justice, and to avoid decisions that “create the impression that she doesn’t care for what happened," citing the example of military officials who failed to protect the victims. Conde was referring to Maj. Gen. Alfredo Cayton, who was promoted to Vice Commander of the Philippine Army after initially being relieved from his position after the massacre. “Itong klaseng signal na bibibigay niya sa publiko, sana pag-isipan ito dahil hindi maganda iyong dating sa mga pamilya ng biktima," he added. Conde also lamented restrictions on the media coverage of the trial of Andal Ampatuan Jr. “It’s a whole gamut of actions and decisions na hindi magandang pakinggan na nakaka-offend sa mga pamilya ng biktima," Conde said. Also present at the candle-lighting ceremony was Erlinda Cadapan, mother of Sherlyn Cadapan, Anakbayan community organizer who was allegedly abducted by paramilitary units on June 26, 2008. Saying that she represented the families of desaparecidos (victims of forced disappearances), she expressed support for victims of the Ampatuan massacre. “Hindi dapat tayo patulog-tulog sa mga pangyayari ngayon sa mga ginawa sa ating mga journalist. Nakikita natin kung ano ang ginagawa sa mga Ampatuan, nakita natin noong dinala sila sa eroplano, parang wala lang," lamented Cadapan. Cadapan related the case of her daughter, who remains missing to this day together with Karen Empeño, another activist. Cadapan asked the government to bring her daughter’s and Empeño’s case to court. “Huwag siyang magbulag-bulagan. Bigyan niya ng orders na ipalitaw na iyong dalawa," Cadapan said. – Nikka Corsino/JV, GMANews.TV