We will never forget

Exactly a year ago, me and then National Press Club of the Philippines president Benny Antiporda were casually having merienda at a Quezon City restaurant when a local official from Maguindanao called Benny up to inform him that 15 journalists were abducted by armed men in Maguindanao.

I have come to know of similar situations when a group of journalists were temporarily “hostaged” and later released by their “captors” such as when a few media friends accompanying a Marine general who visited a rebel camp in Mindanao to talk peace were held against their will and prevented from leaving camp for hours but were eventually released.

So I told Benny that it could just be some sort of a misunderstanding between the captors and the 15 journalists, confident that the mediamen would be safely released.

Worried, I took my cellphone and dialed the number of NPC member Alejandro “Bong” Reblando of the Manila Bulletin. Bong, a jolly person, had been a friend for a decade. Whenever there were issues involving journalists in the South, we always contacted him to seek clarification or to simply make queries. Being a senior correspondent in Maguindanao and member of the NPC, we had high regard for Bong. He had an impeccable record and was never involved in any controversy.

So I tried to call up Bong through my cellphone but to no avail. I thought he could just be in a meeting or somewhere where cell signal was weak. I was trying to reach him to verify if indeed there were 15 journalists abducted that day. Disgusted that I could not reach him, I resorted to sending him a text message. I recalled having sent him this: Pre, pakitawagan naman ako agad as soon as you received this. May kinidnap daw kasing mga media sa Mindanao monitor lang namin.

The message never reached him. He never had the chance to turn on his cellphone again. Bong had been dead for hours, along with 31 other journalists who were butchered by members and supporters of the Ampatuan clan in the town that bears the same name in Maguindanao.

Later that day, the gruesome fact began to unfold before everyone. Scores of individuals, including members of the Ampatuans’ rival political clan and their supporters were killed in cold blood by the demonic Andal Ampatuan Jr. and almost 200 policemen, militiamen and private bodyguards of the powerful family.

November 23, 2009 was a day of infamy. The carnage became known more aptly as the Ampatuan Massacre. Killed by an Ampatuan in Ampatuan.

Today, the first anniversary of the massacre, was declared by President Aquino as a national day of remembrance for the victims.

In an announcement yesterday, Malacanang said Aquino signed Proclamation No. 73 “for the nation to pause and reflect on one year having passed since the massacre horrified the Filipino people and the world, and that justice must be served on the perpetrators."

Fifty-seven bodies—25 civilians and 32 media practitioners—were found on a grassy hilltop in Ampatuan town. To date, however, the body of Tacurong City-based Midland Review photojournalist Reynaldo "Bebong" Momay, has yet to be found.

To get a glimpse of the horror these guys had experienced, follow these simple instructions: Close your eyes. Imagine you and your family are having a joy ride. Singing, laughing as you drive along before coming to a stop. In front of you is a long convoy of vehicles carrying total strangers. Then, imagine the Satanic figure of Andal Ampatuan Jr. coming toward you to ask you and your family to alight.

You just happened to be there. At the wrong place and at the wrong time. There would be no turning back and absolutely no chance of escape. You couldn’t just tell the devil that you are not part of the convoy.

Do you think he would listen to you and survive? This thought makes us all victims too.