On December 7, 2009, the Department of the Interior and Local
Government Press Corps (DILG) which I head up to now, led officers and
members of other Quezon
City based press organizations in commemorating the now infamous
Ampatuan Massacre through a brief candle lighting vigil on the EDSA
portion of the DILG building. National Press Club President Benny
Antiorda also came.
Journalists from various media entities, responding to our call for
swift justice, also renewed their commitment to continue on despite
seemingly favorable developments in the case. On that same occasion,
11/23 was unanimously declared as a day of INFAMY, a day when press
freedom faced its worst challenge and, more appropriately, its worst
nightmare so far.
The Ampatuan carnage on 11/23 should also be remembered as a day when
democracy itself was assaulted by members of a moneyed and powerful
clan who faultily revered themselves as gods on that piece of land
down South. The date 11/23 shall be an awful reminder that freedom of
the press and our civil liberties are under constant threat from those
whose lust for power and greed for wealth seem endless.
Therefore, it is our vow to be most vigilant especially during these
trying times. We shall not keep our guards down.
As our fallen colleagues are laid to rest one by one, we shall
continue to rise above others in pursuing their cause. That is, to
bring to fore a factual recounting of everything that occurred within
the ambit of the country’s unique democratic setting.
We shall not fail them.
Until justice has been fully served by authorities and achieved by the
beareved families of the 57 or so innocent victims, and until all
suspects are punished, we will not rest.
As professional journalists, our lives maybe taken along the way and
at any given time. But no one, not even the most evil warlord, can
kill democracy.
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