The family of one of the Negrense victims of the Maguindanao massacre is asking President Benigno Aquino III to help ensure the speedy resolution of the case since three years have already passed and they have yet to attain justice.

Andrea Jayme, the younger sister of human rights lawyer Connie Brizuela, who was the legal counsel of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, joined about 30 members of Gabriela-Negros and Karapatan in a protest at the marker of the Fallen Journalists at the Bacolod public plaza yesterday, by offering red roses tied with black ribbons.

She later joined the members of the Bacolod media, led by the Negros Press Club and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters sa Pilipinas, at a torch and candle-lighting ceremony at the plaza at 7 p.m.

The NPC and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines-Negros Occidental chapter also led the commemorations of the third year of the Ampatuan Massacre and the International Day to End Impunity with students of Bacolod City, at the University of St. La Salle parking area last night.

Gabriela chairperson Clarizza Singson yesterday said three years have passed since the massacre and the families of the 58 victims continue to seek justice, especially for the women and the members of the media who were killed.

Gabriela will continue to seek justice for all the victims all over the country, she said.

“Personally, I would like the President to do something. I would like to know what he has done about the case and all the evidences that were presented,” Jayme said.

She said there were about 100 witnesses presented and she has not kept track of how many have already been killed. Some of them may have been threatened or offered money, she said.

Jayme, a barangay kagawad of Mansilingan, said her sister was a classmate of Mangudadatu in the College of Law in Mindanao and was very close to his wife.

On the other hand, Teresita Maravilla, the sister of Bart Maravilla of Bombo Radyo, said they seem to have lost hope that the case would be resolved since the culprits are very influential. She said she no longer believes they will be able to attain justice since three years have already passed, she said.

Jaime Espina of the NUJP urged the media and public to unite in demanding for justice for the families of the victims.

There has been no single mastermind who has been convicted of the crime, Espina said.

A lot of people pinned their hopes on President Aquino but nothing has happened, he said. He urged everyone to unite and demand justice for the victims of the massacre.

The Maguindanao massacre not only curtailed press freedom but also the people's right to participate in a free and honest election, freedom of expression and freedom of the press, he said.

The Negros media lit torches and waived red flaglets as a show of their sympathy to the families of the victims of the massacre.

Culminating the commemoration was the releasing of 58 Japanese lanterns, 32 of them red, symbolizing the number of journalists killed.*CGS

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