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THE MASSACRE in Ampatuan, Maguindanao eight years ago – with majority of the victims from the media and other professions – was shocking not only because of its ferocity and barbarity but also because of its brazenness. The dastardly deed may be attributed to partisan politics (it was carried out on Nov. 23, 2009 a few months away from the May 2010 elections) but the complete disregard of human rights was obvious.
November next year it would be a decade’s anniversary of the massacre. The wheels of justice grind exceedingly slow in this country. The victims and their families are doubly suffering from injustice. Will they finally get justice under the Duterte administration?
Here’s one interesting observation on the members of the Ampatuan clan, the prime suspects in the massacre – they were political allies of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and credited for her poll victory in Maguindanao in 2004 and those of her senatorial bets in 2007.
The Duterte administration must go hammer and tongs against the perpetrators. This is one test that this administration cannot afford to flunk. The entire Filipino nation must act as one in challenging the President and all our law enforcement agencies to lose no time in prosecuting the perpetrators of this abominable act.
The culture of impunity prevalent among the powerful and strong has much to do why such an unbelievable act could happen. The same impunity is obvious in political killings, enforced disappearances and other human rights violations.
The perpetrators of this heinous crime must be brought to justice. The full force of the law must be made to bear on the killers. The senseless mass murder must be dealt with firmly and swiftly. Another nine years of waiting would be unacceptable as it is unconscionable.
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