North Cotabato journalists remember Maguindanao massacre victims

KIDAPAWAN CITY -Journalists from North Cotabato commemorated on Wednesday the 70thmonth of the Maguindanao massacre with a candle lighting ceremony and offering of prayers for the repose of the souls of the victims of the most gruesome crime in the Philippines’ history. The journalists, all members of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Cotabato chapter, lighted 58 candles as symbols of the lives lost during the massacre. They vowed ‘never to forget’ the crime and would continue to seek justice for the victims, 32 of them journalists. The brutal massacre is one of the world’s deadliest attacks against media workers. The NUJP Cotabato members expressed relief when they were told that the petition for bail filed by former ARMM Governor Datu Zaldy Ampatuan was denied by the court. Citing reports, the NUJP Cotabato chapter said the petition was denied because of the strength of the evidence against Ampatuan. The order, penned by Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the QC RTC Branch 221, was issued on September 15. The group was also hopeful that the massacre trial hearings would be finished -- as promised by Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, before the year ends. They were told the prosecution and defense lawyers will finish presenting evidence by the end of 2015.After which, Judge Reyes will have 90 days to issue a verdict.