The Silliman University community in Dumaguete City yesterday strongly condemned the killing of at least 57, to include a university alumnus, in the strife-torn Maguindanao.

In a press statement, the university demanded swift execution of justice for the victims, among them, a fellow Sillimanian, lawyer Concepcion Jayme-Brizuela.

Brizuela graduated from Silliman University in 1975 with degrees in Creative Writing and Journalism, Mark Raygan Garcia, director of Information and Publication after verifying records of the university, said.

“All the victims were ruthlessly murdered defying all sense of Godliness, humanity and value for persons and life that Sillimanians everywhere hold dear,” the press statement said.

“What took place in Maguindanao was an act of political desperation. It paints a gruesome picture of abject neglect of basic human rights and of abuse of power,” it added.

An indignation rally is scheduled 5 p.m. today at the Ravello Field, beside the gymnasium of Silliman University , where alumni, the public, church members and the media are invited to attend and speak, said Garcia.

The Silliman community also described the killings as a deliberate attempt at advancing personal interests at the expense of their loved ones and a daring impediment to the practice of journalism, aimed at curtailing press freedom.

As a Filipino nation, the Maguindanao massacre is “yet another reason to be outraged at how our collective sense of self is yet again assaulted and violated by political and government leaders who, for narrow self-interests to hold on to power, willingly, routinely and wantonly betray public trust”.

While reports point to the killings as borne out of a political rivalry between two influential families, the effects are far reaching and the killings further compromise efforts at achieving lasting peace for Mindanao , the statement said.

The Silliman community extends its condolences to the families of the victims as they prayed for healing for those affected and for the rest of Mindanao .

They also called on Sillimanians to wear black ribbons as a symbol for collective and personal outrage over the massacre, and at the same time urged them to participate in all mass actions and legal activities to condemn it.

The Silliman community is also asking President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo “to forget all personal political debts and move decisively and immediately to protect our national life and self-respect”.

The Ampatuan clan members, believed to be behind the worst election-related violence ever in the country, are said to be close political allies with the President for delivering the votes in the last presidential elections.*JFP

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