Bicol journalists and human rights activists mark the International Day to End Impunity with call for justice to victims of the Maguindanao massacre and extra-judicial killings, Nov. 23, 2011

Bicol journalists and human rights activists mark the International Day to End Impunity

with call for justice to victims of the Maguindanao massacre and extra-judicial killings

Sorsogon City

November 23, 2011

Photos courtesy of KARAPATAN - Bikol and NUJP-Sorsogon





x NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES Sorsogon Chapter End Impunity: A Call for Justice It has been two years since the killing of 58 individuals shocked not only the whole country but the whole world as well. Thirty-two of them were media workers. They were the victims of the now infamous Maguindanao Massacre. It was the biggest single incident of media killings ever recorded in the annals of human history. The incident catapulted the Philippines to the top as the most dangerous place for journalists. The eyes of the whole world are upon us. Everyone is crying for justice. But as things would turn out, the victims not only fail to get justice, their number continues to rise as media and extra-judicial killings continue without let-up. The carnage continues with impunity! The government has, time and again, failed to decisively act on these cases as it continues to render mere lip service to the families of the victims and the community as well. We will no longer appeal to this government to take decisive action on these killings for we have repeatedly done so but still the killings continued. Instead, now, we demand that this government do its obligation of securing its citizens against all kinds of injustices and to mobilize all its resources and agencies to put behind bars all those involved in the Maguindanao Massacre and all other media and extra-judicial killings in the country! We demand for the swift, impartial and fair prosecution of the suspects in these killings and impose the most severe penalties not only to the triggermen but to those who were behind them as well! We demand that this government ensure that sanctions are meted out to government officials and personnel who allow themselves to be used to frustrate the ends of justice! And to the entire Filipino nation, we urge everyone to take an active role in demanding for justice from the government. It is within our rights, and even our obligation, to keep the government on its toes in ensuring peace, justice and security for all of us. Should we still wait that one of our loved ones be the next victim before we take an active role? JUTICE FOR MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE VICTIMS! JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF MEDIA KILLINGS! JUSTICE FOR ALL VICTIMS OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS! END IMPUNITY NOW!
			Msgr. Arturo M. Bastes, DD, SVD - Bishop Diocese of Sorsogon

			Bobby Labalan, NUJP chairman- sorsogon chapter
			Rey Hababag- SIMRI


			Speakers at the commemoration of the International Day to End Impunity Msgr. Arturo M. Bastes, DD, SVD - Bishop Diocese of Sorsogon Msgr. Rene Mabute, Vicar General - Diocese of Sorsogon Bobby Labalan, Chairman - NUJP Sorsogon Chapter Ms. Grace Pascual, KBP Sorsogon Red Lasay, President - Sorsogon Provincial Press Club, Inc. Roland Antonio, UNTV Bicol Regional Manager Abulaine Damiano, Sorsogon Muslim Community Rey Hababag, Sorsogon Independent Media Reporters, Inc. (SIMRI) Vince Casilihan, Karapatan Bikol Jing Dolot, Bayan Sorsogon Other speakers, organization, schools & media organizations who joined OLPS Major Seminary Sorsogon National High School - Luzon Tip Publication Computer Communication & Devt. Institute KBP Sorsogon Chapter Sorsogon Tri-Media Sorsogon Prov'l Press Club, Inc. Sorsogon Independent Media Reporters, Inc. Sorsogon Now Sorsogon Today Sorsogon Guardian Spirit FM Padaba FM DWLH-FM Radio Natin Sorsogon GMA 7 PBN-DZMS RSN-DZRS Bombo Radyo Busina News Express BicolToday.com UNTV DWCB-TV11 PIA Sorsogon
Red Lasay, President Sorsogon Press Club
Msgr Rene Mabute, Vicar General - Diocese of Sorsogon
Grace Pascual, KBP Sorsogon


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Vince Casilihan, KARAPATAN - Bikol			Abulaine Damiano-Sorsogon Muslim Community


			x NEWS RELEASE 22November 2011 REFERENCES: Cristina Palabay & Edita Burgos, End Impunity Alliance Convenors Bishop Reuel Norman Marigza, General Secretary of United Church of Christ in the Philippines Angge Santos, Media Liaison for End Impunity Alliance, 09189790580 “Strike while the iron is hot” End Impunity Alliance calls on P-NOY to prosecute GMA for human rights violations “While we welcome the issuance of arrest warrants to former Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr. on charges of electoral fraud, we demand that they be charged for grave human rights violations they committed while in power. President Noynoy Aquino must strike while the iron is hot,”said Cristina Palabay, convenor of the End Impunity Alliance, at a protest action in Quezon City today. The activity builds towards the International Day to End Impunity on November 23. Palabay said “the numbers under the nine-year GMA regime are appalling---1,206 victims of extra judicial killings, 206 cases of enforced disappearances and thousands more unsolved human rights violations, including the Ampatuan massacre. The perpetrators of these crimes must not go unpunished.” Meanwhile, Mrs. Edita Burgos, convenor of the End Impunity Alliance and mother of disappeared activist Jonas said, “We will not stop our quest for justice until human rights violators are made to be accountable of their crimes and our lost loved ones, who are victims of enforced disappearance under GMA’s Oplan Bantay Laya, are surfaced. We hope that the cases pending before the Courts will prosper and not become a futile pursuit for justice.” “We are firm in our stand that the victims of extrajudicial killings and other gross human rights violations deserve no less than justice. Government institutions may debate endlessly on their varying legal opinions and jargon on the constitutionality of Arroyo’s arrest, but for victims and their families, GMA must pay, plain and simple. Our commitment to end impunity, however, will not end in GMA’s imprisonment. We will carry on, stand in witness against an unjust system and leaders who perpetuate this injustice, until extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearance are ended,” Burgos added. Civil cases for alleged human rights violations filed against GMA are still pending in the Courts. Among these is the damage suit filed by the “Morong 43” for their illegal arrest, detention and torture. Another pending damage suit was filed by the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) in June 17, 2011. GMA was charged in the case for killings, torture, liquidation, harassment and illegal detention of UCCP members. “It is our fervent prayer that the case filed by UCCP will be heard next. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo should answer for the crimes committed during her administration. Justice must be served for our slain compatriots. We should all be vigilant and ensure that the Aquino administration pursues these cases and prosecutes GMA and other human rights violators,” said UCCP Secretary General Reuel Marigza. Marigza further explained that “impunity persists and gross human rights violations brazenly continue because those who should be held accountable for these crimes are still scot-free.” “Impunity prevails. To date, there are already 55 victims of extrajudicial killings under the P-Noy administration, including the recent assassination of Fr. Fausto “Pops” Tentorio. There is no let-up on military operations that target human rights defenders and whole communities. The killings of human rights defenders, ordinary citizens and journalists, among others, should stop,” Palabay ended. ###
Media from print and broadcast

students from Sorsogon National High School

CCDI students
Our Lady of Penafrancia major seminary, seminarians






NUJP Sorsogon Chapter holds indignation torch parade, a call to end impunity By Irma A. Guhit Bicol Tolay http://bicoltoday.com/?p=4265 SORSOGON CITY (24 Nov. 2011) – “Today we recall the atrocities committed against our brother Filipinos in Mindanao, the “Maguindanao Massacre” and even those extra judicial killings here before that up to this time are still unresolved, a blatant impunity committed against our people,” these were the strong words of Bishop Arturo M. Bastes of Sorsogon when he addressed the members of the media community and organizations who joined the indignation torch march parade spearheaded by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines(NUJP), Sorsogon Chapter yesterday here. NUJP Sorsogon Chapter president Bobby Q. Labalan explained that the activity conducted is in commemoration of the International Celebration to End Impunity , the 2nd year recall of the Maguindanao Massacre and the extra judicial killings committed several years ago here in the province that up to this time still , according to him are cases unresolved and are not given the full justice of the law. Carrying banners with an inscription that states “ Duguan and “matuwid na daan”Katarungan para sa lahat na biktima ng pamamaslang” members of the media, non-governmental organizations, students, civil society and the organization of the Muslim community here joined the indignation torch parade yesterday to make people aware that the swift hand of justice should be imposed to end such incidents. Bishop Bastes reiterated the numerous killings committed against the members of media who he said are the bearers of truth and calls on government to provide the right intervention to them. In his message and prayers, he enjoined the people to advocate peace and justice and that all people of different faiths be one in heeding the call of peace and ending the merciless crimes committed against people who work for truth and peace. Hundreds joined the torch parade that started at 6:00 PM at the Sorsogon Provincial Capitol Freedom Park were various speakers made their statement of support. Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) also joined the activity with their firm stand to also call on government to intervene in the solving of the extra judicial killings here in the province committed that up to this time according to him are just gathering dust and seems to be mere compilations of merciless events. NUJP Sorsogon Chapter chairman earlier in the morning yesterday conducted a series of radio station hopping here to explain to the public the thrusts of the organization, its purpose to assist in the resolutions of these cases and the atrocities committed against journalist. He caled the public to join them in their desire and move to end impunity.








			DUWAG Vince Casilihan sinong nagsabi na kami'y duwag kaming ito'y nangangahas sa nakatutuk na punglo habang kami'y nagsasalita. kayo ang duwag patalikod kayo kung lumaban harapin kaming mamamayan tiyak mukha nyo ay tatakpan. katotohanan at pawang katotohan ang sambit nitong sambayanan bakit ayaw nyong harapin tunay na kalagayan natin. bulag ba kayo o nagbubulagbulagan pipi ba o sadyang ayaw magsalita bingi ba o talagang tinatakpan ang tenga yan ang dahilan kung bakit di madinig daing ng kapwa. mabibingi kayo sa sigaw ng sambayanan patuloy ito sa paglaban libo man ang pinatahimik hindi kaylanman panghihinaan.





Mendiola




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