President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Thursday pledged justice before the grieving families of journalists who were killed in Maguindanao as she visited their wake in General Santos city.
"I am attending the wake of some of the victims of the Maguindanao massacre as a modest expression of the nation's outrage and my personal grief and shock on the acts that befell these men and women. What happened continues to shock me. This is a black mark to our nation," Mrs. Arroyo said.
"I am really very grieved because I have fought everyday in office to bring peace in this island (Mindanao) and I will continue to do so until the last minute of my term," she added.
At the same time, Mrs. Arroyo also pledged to provide the families with jobs and educational and financial assistance.
Sandra Aguinaldo of GMA News said Mrs. Arroyo even offered to become the godmother of the newly-born child of Marc Ariola, the cameraman of UNTV who was among the 31 journalists killed in the massacre.
Mrs. Arroyo first visited the wake of six journalists in Collado Funeral Parlor along Pendatun and Laurel North Streets. After which, she proceeded to the UNTV Broadcast Center to sympathize with the families of four other journalists.
She was accompanied by Interior and Local Governments Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Secretary for Mindanao Affairs Jesus Dureza.
The relatives of the journalists, for their part, became emotional.
"Justice talaga kailangan at saka education ng mga apo ko kasi hindi ko kaya (What we really need is justice, and also education for my grandchildren because I can't afford it)," said Nancy dela Cruz, the mother of Gina dela Cruz of Today who orphaned a seven-month old baby.
For her part, Merly Perante, the widow of slain Gold Star Daily staffer Ronnie Perante, called on the witnesses to surface to shed light on the killings.
"Sana makonsensya naman sila, sana hindi patulugin ng konsensya para mag-witness sa nangyari para mabigyan hustiya lahat ng biktima (I hope they get conscience-stricken, I hope their conscience makes them sleepless until they turn witness so that justice is given to all the victims)," said Merly, who is seven months pregnant. - Aie Balagtas See/JV, GMANews.TV
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