By Allen Estabillo/PNA
GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The government will look into possible undelivered assistance and other benefits pledged for the families of slain media workers in the Nov. 23, 2009 Ampatuan massacre.
Undersecretary Joel Egco, executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), said in a dialogue with the families here Friday night that they will conduct an inquiry on the matter and “make sure that those left behind will get what they deserved.”
“This is not an investigation but we will just take another look at it. Were there promised assistance from the government and the private sector that were not realized? What were these and if the families can still avail of them?” he said.
Egco made the statement in response to an inquiry raised by retired police officer Eliver Cablitas, husband of slain newspaper publisher Maritess.
Cablitas, representing the families of the victims, said they felt that a number of promised assistance following the massacre were not delivered properly and some did not even materialize.
He cited a financial assistance partially released through the Department of Justice (DOJ) and benefits promised by the private sector and other entities.
“We’re not going after this assistance. We’re just evaluating what really happened to them,” he said during the dialogue.
The dialogue with the victims’ families was held following a commemoration Mass and candle lighting at the Forest Lake Memorial Park here for the 9th anniversary of the carnage.
Twelve of the journalists from this city, who perished in the massacre, were buried side-by- side at the memorial park.
Getting consent from the victim’s families, Egco said the PTFoMS will conduct a research regarding the promised assistance and benefits to them and identify those that remain undelivered.
He said they will tap local media groups, especially the Soccsksargen Press Club, to assist.
On the part of the government, he said they will look into possible promised assistance and benefits still undelivered, lacking and those that were stopped.
Egco said they will also inquire about the assistance from private entities and remind those concerned about them.
“We will try to get into the bottom of everything. Ang para sa inyo ay para sa inyo (Those that are for you should be yours),” he said.
Aside from this, Egco said the task force will regularly communicate and update with the victims’ families regarding the status of the case against the massacre suspects.
Grace Morales, wife of slain journalist Rosell, said they have not been getting proper updates on the case from the DOJ.
“We’re on the case 365 days of the year and we’re asking and getting monthly updates from the DOJ. It’s important that these will also be relayed to all of you,” Egco said.
At least 197 suspects had been charged with multiple murder in connection with the massacre led by former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his sons former Datu Unsay, Maguindanao Mayor Andal Jr., former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Zaldy, and former Maguindanao acting governor Sajid Islam.
The cases against Andal Jr. and the other principal suspects are up for resolution by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes following the conclusion of the trial last November 5.
Egco, along with Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar, visited for the first time on Thursday, the massacre site in Sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman in Ampatuan, Maguindanao.
He was the keynote speaker of a regional forum on media safety and security here that was attended by about 100 journalists and other stakeholders from parts of the Soccsksargen region.
