CRY for JUSTICE can’t be stopped, 4 years after the Maguindanao Massacre where 58 civilians including 32 mediamen were brutally killed in Barangay Masalay, Ampatuan, Maguindanao.
The very slow-paced justice system in the Philippines is evident in the case of Maguindanao massacre, after 4 years since the massacre happened in November 23, 2009, families of the victims are still facing a blank wall and keep ‘crying for justice.’
The very sad reality about this was reported by the Philippine Star which says that certain groups “sabotaged” the commemoration of the 4th anniversary of the massacre last Saturday (November 23, 2013) in Maguindanao. 
Inspite of this, the event at the massacre site still pushed through as scheduled, capped with ecumenical prayers and lighting of candles by participants including the relatives of the victims led by Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu.
Mangudadatu himself, lost his wife, Genalyn and two sisters, Eden and Farhana in the incident where 58 people were brutally killed including the 32 members of the Philippine media mostly locally-based correspondents including our Central Mindanao DZRH reporter Henry Araneta.
During that day, the massacre victims were on their way to the provincial capitol to file on Mangudadatu’s behalf his certificate of candidacy for governor of Maguindanao during the May 2010 elections when they were flagged down by militiamen and certain leaders of the then ruling Ampatuan clan at a portion of a national highway in Barangay Masalay.
In the afternoon, 22 cadavers were found. The next day, then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, through Presidential Proclamation 1946, declared the provinces of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City under emergency rule. The Scene of the Crime operatives of the Philippine National Police (SOCO) also found another three grave sites in Sitio Malating. They found 24 bodies in the first grave site, six in the second grave site, and five in the third grave site. This brought the total number of cadavers to 57.
The November 23 Maguindanao Massacre is still remembered as the “deadliest day for the press” and the Committee to Protect Journalists placed the Philippines in Rank 3 in its ‘Impunity Index.’
In a report published by Manila Bulletin, the Philippines owns the distinction of being the second deadliest country in the world for journalists. According to the latest data of the CPJ, Iraq tops the list with 96 journalists murdered since 1992 while Philippines ranks second with 73 cases.
Of the total number of journalists killed in the Philippines, CPJ said that more than half were covering the political beat, 37 percent were columnists or commentators, 29 percent were print reporters, and 22 percent were broadcast reporters.
Also, according to its statistical analysis, 44 percent of the slain Filipino journalists were taken captive, 31 percent were threatened, and 44 percent were tortured. More than 90 percent of the slain Filipino journalists were men. 
The following were the names of journalists who were among those massacred in Maguindanao (as published by Manila Bulletin)
There were reports that at least 6 witnesses of the gruesome massacre were killed or liquidated by unknown groups.
In a report by Inquirer on June 28 2012, among those killed were: Alijol Ampatuan, who was shot in Shariff Aguak, the provincial capital, in February 2012; Suwaib Upham, Esmael Amil Enog and three relatives of other witnesses.
Let us keep our confidence in the Justice system though we cannot hide our disappointment with it’s snail-paced process, but I believe, we, as Filipino people will be very vigilant until all victims of the Maguindanao massacre have been given justice.
Let us not forget to keep praying for this case and all unresolved cases of killed mediamen since the first drop of blood from the very first victim while in the line of ‘press duties.’
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