Palace renews commitment for justice on massacre victims

MALACANANG renewed on Saturday its commitment to bring the perpetrators of the Maguindanao massacre to justice as the country marks 1,000 days of the brutal killings that happened in November 2009.

Journalists, press freedom advocates, families of victims, and artists will hold a vigil this Sunday in Quezon City marking the 1,000th day since the infamous Maguindanao massacre claimed more than 50 lives on November 23, 2009.

"On the part of the Executive we do continue to listen to their concerns. We have said this in the past, the offer of security still stands if there are families of the victims who would like to avail of that security, of that protection," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

"Likewise, the order of the President to our prosecutors still stands to avoid any delay on the part of the prosecution, and also to fight any delay that maybe proposed, any dilatory tactics that maybe done by the other party. That order still stands," she added.

According to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines the vigil will start at 4 p.m. at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani near the corner of Edsa and Quezon Avenue. The vigil will last until 9 a.m. Monday.

The Ampatuan clan, which controlled dozens of militiamen, has been blamed for the Maguindanao massacre. Among the victims are the rival Mangudadatu clan members, their supporters and media workers who were traveling in a convoy when they were halted by gunmen.

Of the 196 officials, police and militiamen accused in the case, 96 were arrested and 76 were arraigned. However, 100 of them, including some of the Ampatuans, have remained at large. (SDR/Sunnex)