By Teofilo Garcia, Jr/PNA
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Members of the local media have been encouraged to continue seeking the truth while in the practice of their profession.
Fr. Teofilo Pimentel of the Saint Joseph Parish issued the call as over a dozen members of the local media on Friday offered a mass to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre.
Fifty-eight persons, including 32 journalists and media workers, were killed by gunmen believed to be led by then-mayor Andal “Datu Unsay” Ampatuan Jr. on November 23, 2009 in Barangay Masalay, Ampatuan, Maguindanao.
The journalists were in a convoy of the relatives of then Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu of Buluan, Maguindanao, on the way to file his certificate of candidacy for governor at the election office in Shariff Aguak.
The other victims were not part of the convoy but happened to be traveling on the same road aboard two vehicles.
Pimentel has encouraged the members of the press to “search (for) the truth and speak for the truth.”
The Catholic prelate underscored the role of journalists, noting “they make a lot of sacrifices” not only for their family but also in seeking out the truth.”
Melanie Guanzon, chairperson of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines-Zamboanga, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi (Zambasulta) chapter, said members of the press all over the country should also remember other mediamen killed in the line of duty.
“We. the journalists in Zamboanga (City) are also one in remembering the deaths of our fallen colleagues in Ampatuan to include the 12 more media killing since July this year,” she said.
“Through special prayers, we fervently hope and pray (that) the wheels of justice will roll favoring the victims, justice for the families of slain journalists, peace be on the hearts of the orphans and widows and conviction to seven principal suspects and 100 more conspirators in the Ampatuan massacre,” Guanzon added.
