Leaders of the militant government workers union, Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage) pressed Sunday their demand for “speedy justice” for the victims of the Maguindanao massacre which claimed the lives of 57 people, including 31 journalists. At the weekly Kapihan sa Cypress, Courage National President Ferdinand Gaite said the preliminary investigation may not exactly guarantee speedy justice and reminded the public to be keen on the development of the case. The main suspect, Datu Unday town mayor Anday Ampatuan Jr. was taken to the Department of Justice Friday for a preliminary investigation to determine if there was enough evidence to file a proposed multimurder case in court. “As much as we see a silver lining in the preliminary investigation, we are concerned that the ‘masterminds' of the gruesome crime will not be convicted,” said Gaite. The militant group insisted that Presidet Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the military must also be held accountable for coddling and sponsoring the Ampatuan warlodism in Maguindanao. “Let us not forget that the (Arroyo) government created this monster. Without her blessing, the Ampatuans will not become warlords,” said Gaite. Gaite lauded Quezon City Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Regional Trial Court for her courage to handle the high-profile case which the QC RTC Judge Luisito Cortez earlier rejected over security cocncerns. Gaite urged the government to ensure the security of the lady judge. “We admire her courage. Her dedication to public service is an inspiration to all the good men and women inside the bureaucracy who continue to uphold their sworn duty to put the interests of the people above all,” Gaite said. The state workers said they would stage non-stop protests, along with the other concer–ned sectors of society and the press people who have been “instrumental” in making the case prosper. “We commend the media for their courage in continuing their tasks amidst these trying times. They can rely on the government workers who ... shall work hand in hand with them until justice is achieved and the culture of impunity ended,” Gaite said in a press briefing. The uinion leader said in jest that Ampatuan, who was mobbed by media men and onlookers when he was taken to the justice department Friday, deserved being hit by a camera from a media photographer during the preliminary hearing. “Either intentionally or not, at least the media only hit Ampatuan with a camera. The Ampatuans' deserve more than that for brutally slaughtering the media,” Gaite added.
