THE National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)-Cagayan de Oro Chapter said the court decision convicting Ampatuan brothers and several others is just a first step in getting justice for the victims of the Maguindanao massacre.
NUJP-Cagayan de Oro Chapter chairperson Pamela Jay Orias said the battle is not over yet as the convicts can still appeal the decision to a higher court.
"This is only the beginning, as the accused may file motion of appeal. But what is important now that the facts have been established, that the Ampatuans who are accused, are guilty of killing 58 innocent lives," Orias said.
"May this also serve as an inspiration for those other journalists who were killed in other situations, that they may still get justice," she added.
Human Rights Watch Deputy Asia Director Phil Robertson, for his part, said the verdict should help provide justice to the families of the victims, and build towards greater accountability for rights abuses in the country.
He said advocates should use the said verdict to spur further political and judicial reforms to ultimately end the impunity.
"More broadly, this verdict should prompt the country's political leaders to finally act to end state support for 'private armies' and militias that promotes the political warlordism that gave rise to the Ampatuans," Robertson said.
Froilan Gallardo, a Cagayan de Oro-based journalist who covered the recovery of the bodies of the slain journalists, said he was not surprised that the Ampatuans were found guilty.
"The families have achieved the justice. Ana ang justice system dugay, but the justice system today has proven nga it still works," Gallardo said.
(The families have achieved the justice. The justice system might be delayed but the justice system today has proven that it still works.)
Meanwhile, Reynaldo Momay, a photographer for the local newspaper Midland Review, is the 58th victim in the November 23, 2009 massacre whose body was never found after the bodies of the 57 victims, including 31 journalists, were dug.
"Ang sakit ani karon, si Momay missing, wala gi-recognize sa court. Wala nila gi-recognize. Complete justice for me kung maapil si Momay," Gallardo said.
(What's painful now is that Momay is missing. The court did not recognize him. They did not. It will be complete justice for me if Momay would be recognized as a victim.)