BACOLOD CITY?Journalists staged a rally to protest the proposed dropping of the charges against two members of the Ampatuan clan linked to the November massacre in Maguindanao.

The decision of the Department of Justice was ?dangerous, especially as the elections approach, because it sends a clear message that warlords can kill with impunity and at will,? said Julius Mariveles, president of the Negros Press Club.

Mariveles was one of five speakers at a rally on Saturday afternoon attended by 40 city journalists and members of the College Editors Guild.

Other speakers were National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) officials Rowena Paraan, Jaime ?Nonoy? Espina and Inday Espina-Varona.

?Forget justice. Forget law. Forget democracy,? an NUJP statement read.

It added: ?Agra has hijacked the judicial process and subverted the very justice he should be upholding.?

In Maguindanao, Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, whose wife and several relatives were among those killed in the massacre, also protested the DOJ move.

?We have a witness who claimed that Zaldy attended the planning a day before the massacre. It?s correct he was not at the massacre but he (Zaldy) was in the planning,? Mangudadatu said.

Manuel Reblando, brother of slain Manila Bulletin reporter Alejandro ?Bong? Reblando, said: ?Agra was appointed by President Arroyo. Now it is clear that President Arroyo supports the Ampatuans.?