‘The day has come’ for kin of Maguindanao massacre victims
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 02:01:44 +0000
WITH tears in their eyes, families of victims of the Maguindanao massacre said on Thursday that this was the day they would finally get the justice that had eluded them for 10 years.
Jargin Dela Cruz-Malabanan, daughter of Gina dela Cruz, one of the slain journalists in the gruesome crime committed on Nov. 23, 2009, said that the world needed to know the sufferings of the families of the massacre victims.
“Ito na ang pinakahihintay namin [This is what we have been waiting for],” she said while crying.
Jargin said that she was only 15 years old when her mother was killed.
“Hindi po kami nawalan ng pagasa alam rin naman po na dadating din ang araw na ito natagalan nga po pero alam ng lahat na dadating ang araw na ito [We did not lose hope, we knew this day would come, all of us knew that],” Malabanan said in an interview.
Gina was the reporter of Saksi News, a local publication.
Jargin said that as the oldest among the siblings, she stood as father and mother in the family.
For Jargin, a guilty verdict was not enough for the suspects and she wanted the death penalty.
Lawyer Harry Roque said he was optimistic about the promulgation.
Fifty-eight people, including 32 journalists and media workers were killed in what has been considered one of the most violent crimes committed in Philippine history. DARWIN PESCO