NUJP to stage protest action vs clearing of 2 Ampatuans

A march to Mendiola near Malacañang on Friday and the wearing of black shirts will highlight the protest of journalists on the clearing of two Ampatuan clan members from the Nov. 23 Ampatuan massacre. On Tuesday, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said the march also aims to mark the fifth month of the gruesome crime. "Sana ang kasamahan natin sa media sumuporta sa pagkilos. Kung di tayo makakasama magsuot tayo ng itim ... Ipakita natin nagbabantay tayo (We hope our colleagues in media support this mass action. If they cannot come, they could wear black. We must show the authorities we remain vigilant about the case)," NUJP director Rowena Paraan said in an interview on dwIZ radio. Paraan said they aim to increase the pressure on the proper authorities to act accordingly. She said Friday's march will start at the Far Eastern University along Morayta Street at 5:30 p.m. "Magkakaroon ng march papuntang istatwa ni Chino Roces na icon of press freedom (The objective is to reach the statue of Joaquin 'Chino' Roces, an icon of press freedom)," she said. Other activities scheduled for this week include a candle-lighting at the Department of Justice in Manila on Wednesday afternoon, she said. The NUJP and other media groups scored Justice Secretary Alberto Agra's clearing of two members of the Ampatuan clan from the massacre. Agra said there was "no evidence" that Zaldy and Akmad Ampatuan had conspired in the killings. Paraan said that while Philippine media cannot allow a shortcut of the process, neither can it allow a "blatantly crooked" decision. "Di natin sinasabing i-shortcut ang proseso pero huwag pabayaan ang... sobrang blatant na baluktot na decision. Pabayaan ang korte [ang] magdesisyon (We are not advocating to shortcut the process but we also cannot allow a blatantly crooked decision)," she said. For its part, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) reiterated that Agra has much explaining to do on the matter. CHR chairperson Leila de Lima said they were surprised over Agra's decision, considering he is new to his post and his predecessor Agnes Devanadera kept tabs on the case. "Ang ganitong development is a cause for deep concern (This is a cause for deep concern)," she said in an interview on dzXL radio. — RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV