Maguindanao massacre: Foreign group claims justice remains elusive

SIX years on, the world is dismayed at the slow pace of justice in the Maguindanao massacre.

“Justice remains elusive,” noted a statement of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), a Montreal-based network of 104 free expression campaign organizations in 65 countries.

In the Philippines, it counts as member the media development group Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR).

A Tamaraw FX vehicle is recovered from a shallow grave where at least 50 bodies were found buried in Datu Ampatuan, Maguindanao. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

The IFEX pointed out that the “glacial pace of the (legal) proceedings” of the massacre case contributes to the “ingrained culture of impunity” in the country.

Such culture of impunity, it added, “not only denies justice to the victims of this (massacre) case” but also sows fear to society, in general, hence “muzzles the media and promotes self-censorship.”

Throughout the IFEX network, November 23 is commemorated as International Day to End Impunity.

Since November 2, the Philippines shares with Mexico, Ukraine and Yemen the impunity spotlight throughout the world in a three-week campaign by international groups to call attention to the grave problems faced by journalists in these countries. No one has yet been convicted for involvement in the massacre. One of its principal suspects, Andal Sr., has died of liver failure while in detention.

Another key suspect, Andal’s son Sajid, is out on bail and is running for mayor of Shariff Aguak town under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of Vice President Jejomar Binay.