Impunity has repeatedly shrouded and threatened our democracy and most fundamental values as peace-loving people. The Maguindanao Massacre was an impunity of colossal proportions – it trampled upon the right to life, right to free elections, right to press freedom, and right to information – basic freedoms that any civilized society must enjoy and cultivate.
After a decade of lengthy case proceedings due to the large number of victims, respondents, and witnesses, we expect no less than a just conclusion. This impunity of magnanimous scale must also jolt us to defend and nurture the basic rights we have and to be ever vigilant against power that abuses and corrupts.
We note reports that around 80 suspects remain at large, including police officers and soldiers. We call on the authorities to exert all efforts to arrest suspects so the families of victims are not at risk and to ascertain that all those who will be proven guilty will suffer the force of law. Full justice can only be achieved when all the perpetrators are held accountable.
Given the scale of suffering, tragedy, and loss of life that the massacre has brought upon journalists, civilians, and our society in general, we can only truly do justice by relentlessly working to ensure that our primary freedoms and values as people are guarded. In our own way, we can honor the victims’ sufferings by fighting the culture of impunity that erode our humanity and democracy and ensure that no such tragedy will mar our society again.
The killings that happen regularly, which mostly impact vulnerable sectors, must be resolved with utmost urgency. Safety of journalists must be considered a priority and any attack on members of media should be thoroughly investigated and resolved as this impacts other rights of the people such as right to information and free speech. Media literacy should be promoted to cultivate an environment that will enable free press and free speech thus strengthening democratic spaces. Free elections and our right to vote must be cultivated not only during elections season but also by holding our elected officials to high public and ethical standards always.
The impending promulgation of decision on the Maguindanao Massacre proves that our united call for justice can have an impact on the judicial process. The measures done by the Supreme Court to expedite the proceedings and the court’s handling of the trials have been commended for their unceasing due diligence and courage to tackle this voluminous case. We hope that this can be done on all grave cases of human rights violations for the expeditious delivery of justice.
The verdict on the case shall the set the precedent against grave mass abuses and similar threats to our democracy. Amidst current attacks on our fundamental values and rights, let the lessons of the Maguindanao Massacre revive our vigor to fight for our most cherished values and rights, to safeguard us from impunity. ###