Bulakenyo journalists: Justice by 2016

Bulakenyo journalists: Justice by 2016 

Fourth Maguindanao Massacre anniversary, commemorated

Journalism students of Bulacan State University lead the march around the Bulacan Capitol Grounds before conducting a mini-program for the fourth commemoration of the Maguindanao Massacre.

 Justice by 2016.

Bound together by shared intentions and sentiments, Bulakenyo journalists assembled in front of Gat Marcelo H. Del Pilar’s statue at the Bulacan Provincial Capitol Grounds in commemoration of the Maguindanao Massacre two days before its fourth anniversary.

Members of various media organizations around the province, as well as journalism students challenged President Benigno Aquino III and his administration to ensure that justice for the victims of the said massacre shall be served already by 2016.

“Dahil pagdating ng 2016, magpapalit ng pangulo. Iba na naman ‘yung prayoridad. Iba na naman ‘yung agenda,” reasoned Shane Velasco of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

 On the other hand, Rommel Ramos, station manager of Radyo Bulacan, intended his message to the aspiring journalists. “Dahil by 2016, naka-graduate na kayo, baka isa na sa inyo ang mapapatay,” he stated.

          

Though Bulacan is miles away from Ampatuan town in Maguindanao where the killing took place, Velasco believed that they, as journalists, gather for this event because it is their profession that is at stake.

Velasco then expressed that Bulakenyos must also lead in preserving the freedom of expression because the threat in restraining this still continues.

However, though journalists in the province are still safe from extrajudicial killings, they were not able to escape the fear of the threatening peril of violence because of impunity, said Carmela Reyes-Estrope, president of the newly established Camp Alejo Santos PNP Press Corps Inc.

According to the joint statement of the NUJP-Bulacan, represented by Dino Balabo, chairman of the organization, journalists are symbols of a democratic community and serve as the fourth estate which guards and observes the three branches of the government.

With this, Bryan Serrano, editor-in-chief of Communique, the official college publication of the College of Arts and Letters of the Bulacan State University, asked the government to ensure the safety, to guard, and to protect the press.

The attendees also commemorated the four mediamen who died in Samar during the onslaught of Supertyphoon Yolanda.

NUJP-Bulacan then challenged the government to guarantee a safe working environment for the media in the country so that there will be no more similar cases in the future.

To end the program, they did the annual candle-lighting ceremony and offered donations for the families of the four broadcasters.

Hopeful towards their aim, in an interview, Velasco expressed “Sana dumating na ‘yung panahon na ‘di na tayo nagsisisigaw ng ganito sapgkat na-a-achieve na natin.” “Pero hanggang ‘di na-a-achieve, patuloy tayong magkikita,” he assured.

The Maguindanao Massacre happened on November 23, 2009 in Ampatuan town where 58 were killed, 32 of which are members of the media.