Independent Hip Hop

Alliance-Philippines
Los Angeles
November 23, 2009

AJLPP CONDEMNS POLITICAL KILLINGS IN MAGUINDANAO UNDER THE US-ARROYO “CULTURE OF IMPUNITY”

Los Angeles— The Alliance –Philippines or the AJLPP vehenemently condemned the barbaric massacre in Magunidanao last November 22, 2009 that victimized some members of the Philippine press.

Arturo P. Garcia. West Coast coordinator of the Alliance said that “the AJLPP is one with the National Press Club (NPC) and other democratic forces in the Philippines in condemning this senseless act of political violence. ”

The National Press Club (NPC) and the Alyansa ng Filipinong Mamamahayag (AFIMA) denounced the abduction and massacre of at least 36 persons, including media men, in Barangay Masalay, Datu Abdullah Sangki town in Maguindanao.

The Alliance believes that this massacre is very common of the human rights violations under the US-Arroyo regime. Arroyo won in Maguindanao besting popular Fernando Poe Jr in a dubious election in 2004. Again the Arroyo ticket won handily in a lop-sided 12-0 in the senatorial contest in this province.

Culture of Impunity under US-Arroyo

NPC president Benny Antiporda said in a statement, “The incident came as a humiliating slap on the face of efforts to put an end to the culture of impunity that has caused the deaths of scores of journalists.”

“While we mourn and sympathize with the families of the victims of this dastardly act, we give special concern to members of the press who were killed. There is no word strong enough to describe this barbarism,” the NPC president stressed.

He urged the government to leave no stone unturned in delivering justice to the victims. “The harshest of punishment should be leveled against the suspects, regardless of their political and personal standing,” Antiporda said, adding that the National Press Club would extend assistance to the families of the media

Antiporda urged all participants in the march to Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo to wear black. “We want justice for these victims and we do not want a cover up on this,” he said.