Two years ago, on Nov. 23, 2009, at least 57 people, including 32 journalists, were massacred in the town of Ampatuan in Maguindanao province.
With justice still not in sight two years after the massacre, Filipinos have gone online to clamor for a speedy resolution to the case.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines launched a Facebook Page to consolidate the online activities that complemented the on-ground activities commemorating the second anniversary of the massacre and the first International Day to End Impunity. You may also check out artwork from the children of slain journalists on NUJP's Flickr stream.
Filipino netizens have responded to the call, highlighting their activities on Twitter by using the hashtags #AmpatuanMassacre, #endimpunityinPH, #Nov23 and #IDEI. As well, they've appended #TodayImWearing, followed by the word "black" to show solidarity.
"#TodayImWearing black to demand justice for the victims of #AmpatuanMassacre & slain journos, activists, priests, etc #IDEI #Nov23 #kilosna," tweeted @hbmacale of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility.
"#AmpatuanMassacre never forget!!! Lets continue Fighting for justice," said @CONNIEsison
"I will never forget the gruesome Ampatuan massacre. #endimpunityinPH #IDEI #Nov23 Kilos na Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of QC RTC Branch 221," tweeted @momblogger
"Ampatu One last year. Ampa TWO years na. Am PUCHA! Kelan ang hustisya?," chimed in @jimparedes
Bloggers share their thoughts
Filipinos have also repaired to their blogs. Said @Cocoy on ProPinoy.net: "What matters is that 58 people were brutally slaughtered like animals. What matters is how little in this nation we value life. What matters is that violence such as this must never, ever be repeated."
In fact, an explosion this morning marred the commemoration of the second anniversary, and five roadside bombs were defused near the massacre site.
On tonyocruz.com, blogger and journalist Anthony Ian "Tonyo" Cruz posted this pooled editorial for the International Day to End Impunity warning about the "self-fulfilling prophecy" of not challenging impunity:
"After his pledge in his 2010 SONA to prosecute murderers, Mr. Aquino has been surprisingly silent when it comes to the killing of journalists, despite the possibility that a statement from him each time a journalist is murdered declaring his displeasure over the failure of the police to prevent it, and ordering immediate police action, could prod the police to greater efficiency and warn the would—be killers of journalists that things have changed since the Arroyo regime, and they will now be prosecuted."
Cruz also blogged about about the Ampatuan Massacre for the Asian Correspondent, noting that the spotlight is on the Philippines on the Day to End Impunity.
Top trending topic on Yahoo! Philippines
On Yahoo! Philippines Search, Ampatuan Massacre is today's top trending topic, as you can see on the Trending Ngayon box on the Yahoo! Philippines homepage.
Yahoo! readers also shared their thoughts on the second anniversary of the massacre on the Yahoo! Philippines Facebook Page.
"Ewan ko ba kung bakit mabagal ang hustisya sa Pilipinas pag mayaman ang may sala. Nakakalungkot mang sabihin parang wala na atang hustisya dito sa Pilipinas. (I don't know why justice is so slow in the Philippines if someone rich is involved. It's sad to say but I think there's no more justice in the Philippines)," said Leysam Rosario.
"PNoy gising! Nagawa mo nga magpalabas ng warrant of arrest for CGMA ng mabilis pa sa alas kwatro (President Aquino, wake up! You were able to speedily get a warrant of arrest for Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) and for sure you'll do everything in your power para tuluyan sya makulong (so that she'll be jailed). Do the same for the Ampatuans!!" said Ammi Postrero.
How about you, what are you doing to commemorate the second anniversary of the massacre? And what do you believe should be done to finally give justice to the victims and their family?
Note: Updated to say that what Tonyo Cruz posted was a pooled editorial and to add a link to his own blog post on the Ampatuan Massacre.
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Joey Alarilla is the Southeast Asia Head of Social and Community of Yahoo! Southeast Asia. Visit his personal blog at JoeyAlarilla.com and follow him on Twitter: @joeyalarilla
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