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Massacre victim’s wife holds on to Aquino’s promise of justice


The sky was overcast at 5 p.m. on Tuesday at the Chino Roces bridge in Manila, where groups were scheduled to hold a mass action to commemorate the grisly killing of 58 people in Maguindanao last year. As if on cue, the skies began to weep thirty minutes later as media and militant groups began to arrive. In the downpour, participants in the rally assembled at the historic bridge to mourn the lives lost in the massacre and the fact that justice has yet to be meted to the perpetrators. The group, which marched from the University of Santo Tomas in España, Manila, paid no attention to the rains. Some of those who joined the march carried torches to pay tribute to those killed on that fateful day, while others bore placards calling for an end to impunity and for justice to be served to all the victims. The rains poured on as Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, the representative sent by President Benigno Aquino III, took center stage. The rallyists were all ears as Lacierda began his speech. They were hoping he would say something to ease the collective pain. “Nais po naming ipahiwatig na nakikisama ang pangulo sa mga biktima ng masaker [We want to express the President’s solidarity with the massacre victims]. The President will ensure that there will be justice for the victims under his administration," Lacierda told the crowd, now soaked to the bone. Beside the stage, Editha Tiamzon, wife of slain UNTV news crew member Daniel Tiamzon, who also braved the rains to join the march, listened intently to the Palace official. As the speech ended, the widow let out a sigh of relief: she knew the most powerful person in the country was supporting her fight for justice. “Natuwa naman ako dahil hindi binalewala ng gobyerno ang paggunita sa unang taon mula noong masaker. Masaya ako dahil napakinggan ko na suportado kami ng pangulo, dahil kailangan namin siya sa labang ito," she said. (I was gladdened because the government did not neglect the commemoration of the massacre's first anniversary. I’m happy to hear that the President supports us, because we need him in this fight.) Mrs. Tiamzon admitted that she is still hurting over her husband’s brutal death last year. The wounds left by the incident would only heal if justice is served, she said. “Para kasi sa akin, andiyan pa rin ang sakit kahit isang taon na. Hanggang walang hustisya, hindi ako magkakaroon ng peace of mind," she said. (For me, the pain is still there despite a year having passed. While justice is not served, I will not have peace of mind.) Genuine justice For militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) secretary-general Renato Reyes, however, it is not enough for the Aquino administration to promise to serve justice to the Ampatuan massacre victims. “Hindi sapat na ididiin lang ang mga Ampatuan at iba pang suspects. Hindi ganap na katarungan iyon," he said. (It’s not enough to nail only the Ampatuans and other suspects. That’s not full justice.) He added that the President should address other issues highlighted by the Ampatuan massacre, such as the proliferation of private armies and the culture of impunity that persists in the country. Reyes also said that it would be a “shame" for the administration if persons responsible for the killings will not be convicted within Aquino's six-year term. “Malaking kahihiyan sa administrasyong ito kung wala man lang mako-convict sa termino ni Pangulong Aquino [It would be a big embarrassment for this administration if not a single person is convicted during President Aquino’s term]. If they [people in the government] know what is good for them, dapat talaga may maconvict [there should really be convictions]," he said. Political will Mrs. Tiamzon said that Aquino’s promise of justice for the Ampatuan massacre victims under his term will require strong political will. “Magiging posible lang matupad ang mga pangako ng pangulo kung magkakaroon siya ng paninindigan. Mabagal po talaga ang kaso," she said. (It will be possible for the President to fulfill his promises only if he has the will.) However, the widow said that she still trusts that Aquino and his subordinates, especially Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, are doing their best to strengthen the victims’ case against the Ampatuans. “Nagtitiwala naman kami na kasama namin sila sa pagkamit ng hustisya. Huwag lang silang magpapadikta sa iba," she said. (We still trust that they are one with us in attaining justice, as long as they don’t allow others to dictate on them.) As the commemoration program drew to a close, the rain also stopped. The crowd began to disperse, leaving behind the message placed on a placard on-stage: “Never Forget." –JV, GMANews.TV

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