Negros Occidental and Bacolod City officials, outraged over the massacre of 57 in Maguindanao Monday, three of whom were from Negros Occidental, yesterday joined calls for the immediate arrest of the perpetrators.

“The victims of the terrible Maguindanao massacre should be given swift justice,” Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco said.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said there are no words strong enough to describe the dastardly and inhuman act that took the lives of 52 in Maguindanao and the entire city of Bacolod condemns it in the strongest possible terms.

This election-related bloodbath is by far the most gruesome and shameful, he said.

“I am one of those shocked by that unthinkable barbaric act, I hope that the authorities will do everything to give justice to the families of the victims, and see to it that nothing of that sort will ever happen again,” Leonardia said.

The Negros Occidental Sanggunian yesterday unanimously passed a resolution condemning the brutal killing of civilians and journalists, Board Member Patrick Lacson, SP Committee on Human Rights chairman, said.

“The massacre is unprecedented since it was the earliest election-related violence and the worst loss of life in one day in the   history of journalism,” the resolution authored by Lacson said.

Lacson and Vice Governor Emilio Yulo III provided transportation assistance to four of the relatives of the victims from Negros to travel to Maguindanao.

The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday also passed a unanimous resolution calling on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to ensure immediate justice to the victims of the brutal massacre, and to exert all efforts to maintain peace in the area.

Bacolod Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said he cannot imagine that someone could do such a demonic and barbaric act against unarmed civilians especially women.

Government should not allow this to pass but should arrest those responsible and make them face the consequence of the law, he said.

“Together with the people of Bacolod we grieve the death of the three victims who are from Negros ,” Sayson said.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who was in Victorias City yesterday, said the administration should see to the arrest of the culprits as soon as possible to bring stability back to Maguindanao.

Alex Ozoa of the Paghiliusa sa Paghidaet Negros also condemned the massacre.

“The mass murderers must be the beasts and the masterminds the monsters. The question is who created the monsters?” he asked.

Negrenses killed in the massacre were lawyer Concepcion “Connie” Brizuela; Bart Maravilla, 48, of Bombo Radyo Koronadal, who is from Purok Masagana 99, Brgy. 6, Bacolod ; and Henry Araneta of DZRH Cotabato, who is from Brgy. Canmoros, Binalbagan.

MEDIA PROTEST

Local mediamen led by Negros Press Club President Edgar Cadagat and Julius Mariveles of Aksyon Radyo also lighted candles and offered prayers for the victims at the Bacolod San Sebastian Cathedral yesterday as a sign of mourning.

Araneta, who was slain in Maguindanao, often reported over DYEZ from Mindanao .

Members of the media are set to stage a rally in Bacolod City at 1 p.m. Monday, Cadagat said.

The media are urged to come in black or red, he said.

“We are protesting against the killing and demand that the perpetrators be brought to justice,” he said.

The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas-Negros Occidental Chapter yesterday also strongly condemned what it called the inhuman killing of civilians in Maguindanao.

“Such vicious acts carried out only by those who are evil by heart, gravely infringed the freedom of the press, openly violated the human rights of the civilians and grossly mocked the sanctity of the electoral system of our country, thereby perpetrating multiple assaults against our democratic society,” the KBP said.

The KBP called for justice for the dead, regardless of who the perpetrators of such a barbaric act are.

GABRIELA RALLY

The Gabriela Women's Party and Gabriela-Negros yesterday held a torch march from the Rizal Elementary School to the rotunda near the Bacolod Public Plaza demanding immediate justice for the Maguindanao massacre victims.

The protestors, who wore buttery-shaped masks, also demanded an end to violence against women in the light of the commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Gabriela-Negros secretary general Rina Amacio yesterday said one of the victims, lawyer Connie Brizuela, was a member of Gabriela-Davao.

“We condemn this beastly act and we demand that the government ensure the immediate delivery of justice to the victims,” Amacio said.

Amacio said they hope there will be no whitewash of the case since they are aware that the number one suspects are allies of Arroyo.

Councilor Celia Flor, chairman of the SP Committee on Family and Childcare, said the incident is unfortunate since yesterday was the start of the 16 days campaign against gender violence.

“This is senseless and I call on Arroyo to order the arrests of people responsible for this,” she said.*CPG/CGS

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