Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Manila (Agenzia Fides) - Relatives of the victims killed in the "Massacre in Maguindanao" - the kidnapping and barbaric execution of 46 people in Maguindanao province took place on November 23, 2009 - have appealed to Pope Francis so he can help end the culture of impunity. As Fides learns, the victims complain that, five years after the crime, justice has not been done yet. Several journalists were killed in the massacre while they were following the parade of a political candidate. Rowena C. Paraan, President of the National Union of Filipino Journalists hopes that the story comes to the attention of the Argentine Pope, expressing the hope that "the message is actually delivered to the Pope" who will visit the country from 15 to 19 January 2015. The relatives of the victims are asking the Pope to "comfort the afflicted".
Recently the NGO "Human Rights Watch" (HRW) called on the Philippine government to do more to stop extra-judicial killings which regularly remain unpunished. Some mayors and police officers of Philippine cities are also accused of "aiding and abetting the killings." According to a report published by Human Rights Watch, in the period between 2008 and 2013, there were 298 extrajudicial executions in the Philippines, all unpunished. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 27/11/2014)
