Massacre widow recounts how she almost went insane

The widow of a journalist who was slain in the Maguindanao massacre recalled how she almost lost her sanity after learning that her husband was among the 57 people who were killed on November 23, 2009. As she took the witness stand on Wednesday, Gloria Romero-Teodoro said in Filipino, "I thought I was going to lose my sanity." "I thought that was the end for me because the person from whom I draw my strength was already gone," said Gloria, wife of journalist Andres Teodoro of the Central Mindanao Inquirer. Gloria sought P15 million in damages but told Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Regional Trial Court Branch 221 that no amount of money could replace her husband's life. "Kulang pa nga ang P10 milyon," Gloria said, adding that the amount of damages brought by her husband's demise was estimated at around P5 million. She recalled that she spent around P95,000 for the wake and interment of her husband. However, during the cross examination, lawyer Paris Real, legal counsel for suspect and militiaman Salibo Malang Datukan, asked Gloria if she had documents to prove that she shelled out almost P100,000 for her husband's wake and burial. Gloria said she did not have any. Gloria said her siblings shoulder her travel expenses whenever she goes from her hometown of Tacurong in Sultan Kudarat to Manila to attend hearings. However, Real said, "It is possible your honor that someone is helping her not only with the expenses but also in her choosing to come over here and testify, especially since she does not have a subpoena." The prosecution responded by saying Real's observation was "irrelevant." Day of the massacre In her testimony, Gloria also said on the day of the massacre, her husband told her he was covering a press conference in Maguindanao and that he would return home early. "Niyakap niya ako ng mahigpit at maagaw raw siya uuwi kasi lalabas kami ng mga bata," said the 41-year-old wife. The convoy that Andres was in ended up being flagged down at Sitio Malating in Barangay Salman by alleged clan members of the powerful Ampatuan clan and its band of private militiamen. They were allegedly brought to an isolated, hilly portion of a neighboring sitio where they were shot dead. Apart from journalists, the convoy included relatives and supporters of then Buluan vice mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, who was supposed to challenge the Ampatuans in the May 2010 elections. Mangudadatu ended up winning the polls as governor. Gloria said she learned about the assault on the convoy from a close friend who heard in the news. "Napalundag ako at nataranta. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko," she said. Currently in government custody are more than 90 massacre suspects, most of them detained at the Quezon City Jail Annex inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. More than 100 suspects - all facing 57 counts of murder - are still at large more than a year and a half after the killings. Prominent members of the Ampatuan clan accused of the crime include clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr and his three sons Andal Jr, Rizaldy, and Sajid. Andal Sr. and Andal Jr. have already pleaded not guilty to the charges, while their relatives have yet to be arraigned. - VVP, GMA News