THE fifth month of what was described as the most shocking murder in the country was remembered with rage, sorrow, and artistic expression in the city, Friday.

More than a hundred media practitioners, lawyers, artists, filmmakers, religious, and progressives gathered at Centennial Park between the City Council and San Pedro Cathedral for an outraged call for justice for the 58 victims of the Ampatuan Massacre last November 23.

The protest spurred from the chain of "manipulated events" under the administration of President Gloria Arroyo, specifically the Supreme Court decision that allowed her to choose for the next Chief Justice and Acting Justice Secretary Alberto Agra's order releasing Akmad and Zaldy Ampatuan.

"Wala pa gani ni-aso ang lubot ni Agra sa iyang posisyon pagka Acting Justice Secretary naa na dayoy milagro! Kanang iyang order nga nga kulang ug ebidensya isa ra atong masulti ana -- Istoryahe (Agra hasn't even stayed for long in his position yet he was able to create a miracle. On his order based on 'lack of evidence', we can say only one thing: Who are you fooling)?" said lawyer Eduardo Esperes of the Alliance Against Impunity in Mindanao (AAIM).

"Gikuot ni Arroyo ang hustisya para lang mapawagang sala ang iyang mga tao (Arroyo manipulated justice just so her men would be free of their sins)!"

Earlier at 3 p.m., progressive groups of the AAIM, Sisters Asociation in Mindanao, Kalinaw Mindanao, Bayan Muna, Gabriela, and the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) started the twin protest by marching to the Ampatuan Mansion along Kalamansi Street in Juna Subdivision, Matina, this city.

There, around 30 protesters lambasted the injustice being meanuevered by the Arroyo admnistration, and held aloft photos of Andal Ampatuan Jr., Andal Ampatuan Sr., Zaldy Ampatuan, Acting Justice Secretary Alberto Agra, and President Gloria Arroyo with "MURDERER" labeled under their faces. The same were posted on the gates of the Ampatuan Mansion.

The group also held up a tarpaulin of the same persons and threw red paint at it "to symbolize the blood of the victims and the people's outrage", and as a finale burned the photos on paper.

The group marched off to join the protest rally at the Centennial Monument of Peace and Unity.

Work was finished early as media practitioners joined in the protest organized by the executives of print and television media, the United Peoples Lawyers of Mindanao, and performing artists.

People were already gathered while bystanders watched the video of the exhumation of the massacre victims.

After the final mass at the San Pedro Cathedral the program opened with a sorrowful song performed by the female vocalists of Mebuyan ensemble -- Gauss Obenza and Maan Chua -- while torches were lit by progressive groups as a die-in by members of the Maskara Youth Theater Guild commenced.

An inter-faith prayer was held and after which candles were lit and were placed in a water tub where small signs marked "Justice" floated.

The series of talks was opened by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Davao Chapter president Pinky Cabreros, followed by UPLM president lawyer Carlos Isagani Zarazate, UPLM-Women's Caucus Faye Risonar.

"It is an insult to our minds as legal practitioners that even before there was a trial, these people who were guilty were freed. We should open our minds, hearts, and mouths so those people in Manila would know that we are not sleeping and that we will not forget," Cabreros said in vernacular.

"We saw Agra cry on TV the other day. It only proves that he really is good in 'acting'," said Zarazate adding that Agra could be "crying because of happiness that he has fulfilled his duty to the President or crying because of the shame he has brought to his family."

A pooled editorial that saw print in Davao's major dailies as well as other Mindanao newspapers on that day was read by Sun.Star Superbalita reporter Rhona O. Goc-ong, summing up the sentiments of the media.

Militants also joined the protest with Monico Cayog of the Katribut Partylist expressing the same anger for the injustice that the government is administering, while Nisa Opalla of the Gabriela-Southern Mindanao read a poem.

Cayog later on revealed in an interview that among the victims was a member of the Bagobo tribe, which he belongs to.

"Even though we are not family but if he's been my son I would feel the same sorrow his family feels. Families are the same, built on love for each other. I have never heard of such horrendous act of killing before in my life of more than seven decades. I have never been impressed with this administration that kills tribal leaders for opposing capitalism in their areas," Cayog said in the vernacular.

NUJP secretary general Jeffrey Tupas, who writes for Inquirer, read NUJP's statement "thanking Agra for giving the Filipinos more reason to think that we can never expect anything from the Arroyo Administration".

Fr. Albert E. Alejo, SJ, acted out his poem entitled "Sanayan lang ang pagpatay", on how murder is easy to learn. Another member of the religious, the biking priest Fr., Picx Picardal, delivered his own message of outrage.

Davao musician Popong Landero closed the gathering with a song that implores to the skies, in prayer for the helpless victims and forgotten heroes.