TODAY, November 23, marks the 10th anniversary of the Ampatuan massacre that ended the lives of 58 people including 32 journalists.
Sad to say though that the wheels of justice grind ever so slow. The families and loved ones left behind by the poor victims, mostly the children who had to go through life without a father or a mother, are still crying out for justice.
They may have been younger 10 years ago and have somehow grown up now, but one thing has not changed and will never change, the void that their departed loved ones had left in their hearts. We bet they have already shed pails of tears and the only thing that would somehow ease the anger and the longing is for the massacre perpetrators to be punished as they deserved by law.
The victims, it can be recalled, were on their way to witness the filing of the certificate of candidacy for then Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu at a local Commission on Elections (Comelec) when they were flagged and killed in Ampatuan town.
Mangudadatus’ political rivals Ampatuan clan were accused of ordering the killing.
One of the principal accused Zaldy Ampatuan has been confined at a hospital since he suffered stroke on October 22 while judgement on the massacre case nears.
Meanwhile, the 10th Davao Media Freedom Day, hosted by Sun.Star Davao, was held at the Ateneo de Davao University on Thursday, November 21, commemorating the Ampatuan Massacre with communication arts students of different colleges and universities in attendance. Resource speakers underscored transforming newsrooms, digital newsroom and battling misinformation on social media, among others.