MANILA, Philippines – The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) insists that justice for victims of the Maguindanao massacre has yet to be completed as the court did not acknowledge the death of Reynaldo “Bebot” Momay Jr. whose remains have still to be found.
According to NUJP’s statement on Thursday, while it welcomes the “long overdue” decision from the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221, it laments the inability to find Momay’s remains and the acquittal of members of the Ampatuan clan.
“We lament that 55 of the accused including some key Ampatuan clan members were acquitted. At least 80 of those accused also remain at large. We believe they are guilty in the death of Reynaldo “Bebot” Momay Jr. whose remains have still not been found,” the group said hours after the court’s promulgation.
“Justice is not yet complete for Bebot and until the last of those responsible with blood in their hands are made accountable,” NUJP added.
According to the over 700-page decision penned by Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes, the accuded were only convicted for the murder of 57 victims and not 58 — minus Momay whose remains are still missing.
The NUJP also noted that the Quezon City court’s decision is not yet final until the Supreme Court affirms the ruling, but they said that it is still an important step towards seeking accountability from the Ampatuans and from the other suspects.
“We laud the families of the 58 victims for never giving up and succumbing to threats, bribes and harassment and instead stood their ground in fighting for justice for their loved ones,” the union explained.
“The convictions and indemnification can never bring back the lives of the victims and erase the pain of the families who lost their loved ones,” they added. “But these, in some way, alleviate the suffering that they have endured for the past 10 years.”
Earlier, the court decided that former Maguindanao town mayor Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr., his siblings former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor Datu Zaldy “Puti” U. Ampatuan, Datu Anwar Ampatuan Sr were found guilty for the murder of the 57 victims.
Those killed in the November 2009 massacre were on their way to file the certificate of candidacy of then Buluan town mayor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, who was challenging the Ampatuan clan’s grip on the Maguindanao gubernatorial post.
While they were on the highway of Sitio Masalay, armed men ambushed the convoy which consists of women and journalists.
The court has ordered the arrest of some 80 accused who remain at large. Meanwhile accused Sajid Islam Ampatuan, Datu Akmad Tato Ampatuan, and Jimmy Ampatuan were acquitted by the court for reasonable doubt.
READ: Andal Ampatuan Jr., kin guilty for Maguindanao massacre of 57 people
READ: BREAKING: Court orders arrest of Maguindanao massacre accused still at large
The NUJP also credits the unity of Filipino media workers for the conviction of the accused in the Maguindanao massacre.
“The conviction of the key accused is also due to the unity and steadfastness of Filipino media workers and media groups in the country and abroad who have sustained the campaign and efforts for the past 10 years to make sure that the massacre will not be forgotten and that justice will be achieved no matter how long and hard it takes,” they said.
“We must soldier on until the last of those responsible is behind bars,” it added.