By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA

(© 2009 Journal Group Link International)

C HICAGO, Illinois (JGLi) – A group of Filipino-Australian newsmen is also reaching out to the survivors of journalist victims of the massacre in Maguindanao last month.

In an email to this reporter, Domingo Perdon, publisher-editor of Philippine Bayanihan News based in a suburb of Sydney, Australia, asked the help of this reporter to get the contact information of Louie Logarta, two-time president of the National Press Club of the Philippines, so they can also pass the hat around to give some donations to the survivors of 31 journalists who were massacred while covering a pre-election event.

“Your organization (NPC Phil.-U.S.A. in Chicago, Illinois) was inspirational for us here in the Sydney Filipino Press Group (FilPressSydney),” Mr. Perdon wrote.

“In undertaking a similar fund appeal for the press and media victims in the Maguindanao massacre, I have been trying to contact Louie Logarta, two-time NPC president and until last year when I visited Manila was NPC secretary, but with no success.

“FilPressSydney is headed by Mr. Jimmy Pimentel of Fairfax Community Newspapers and Radio Sandigan here in Sydney.

“I have been tasked to contact NPC for future turnover.

“Would you be able to forward to me the e-mail address or telephone number of Mr. Logarta or the present NPC president for us to talk to them for future turnover? We'll finish the fund drive in seven days and we want to make quick turnover to the eventual beneficiary?”

Reached in Manila, Mr. Logarta told this reporter he welcomed the donation, saying the NPC is giving away the donation to whoever of the survivors would come to the NPC in Manila.

Earlier, the NPC Phil.-U.S.A. has also collected from among its members and friends that will be donated to the widow of Bong Reblando of the Manila Bulletin and one of the 31 massacred journalists. Mr. Reblando was a special guest of the Chicago-based press club in 2001.

Reducing Tension at Trial of Maguindanao-Massacre Suspects

M eanwhile, Chicago-based photojournalist Manny Zambrano suggested that photo-and-video journalists should surround the building where the massacre suspects are being tried to deter the suspects’ supporters from harassing witnesses.

Mr. Zambrano suggested that journalists should take photos or videos of the supporters to reduce a tense atmosphere.

In another development, the officers of the US-based “Never Again to Martial Law (NAML) Coalition” are raising their voices for President Gloria Arroyo to resign from office, saying that she has gone overboard on her record of human-rights abuses and graft cases.

Activists’ Call for President Arroyo to Resign

In a press statement, the NAML said President Arroyo must resign now. "She is way too much."

The group said Arroyo's lifting of Martial Law in Maguindanao does not erase her accountability to the gross human-rights violations committed by her administration against  thousands of human rights advocates as well as her large-scale graft cases.  Human-rights organizations note that Mrs. Arroyo's human-rights violations have surpassed that of the 21-year dictatorial rule of President Marcos.

Arnedo Valera, an NAML Convenor and an international human-rights lawyer, said Arroyo's imposition of martial law in Maguindanao was a mistake and is illegal.

"Instead of fully enforcing the law to prosecute the mastermind and actors of the Maguindanao massacre being a heinous crime, she wrongly used martial law when this is only applicable to crimes against the state. In fact, lifting the martial law is an admission of that mistake. But this does not erase the fact that Arroyo violated the Philippine Constitution," Atty. Valera explained.  “We call on the Philippine Supreme Court to make a ruling on the petitions filed against martial law despite its lifting.”

President Arroyo justified the imposition of Presidential Proclamation 1959 when she said "we can only have justice when there is peace."

Dr. Dante Simbulan, another NAML Convenor reacting to President Arroyo’s speech said: “She got it all wrong.” She says we can only have justice if there is peace. Whose peace? President Arroyo’s view has been the position of the ruling elites, the ruling few who want the people to submit to them in their “brand” of peace before we can talk about justice.

On the other hand, the people – the victims of their oppression – demand justice now.  Only when justice has been attained can genuine peace be possible.  It is an illusion to have peace without justice, Dr. Simbulan averred.

"We cannot be fooled by this rhetoric. She must resign now. Her presidency is devoid of moral authority," the NAML Coalition said in the press release. (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net) # # #

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