Filipino media in US give to massacre families

MANILA, Philippines—The Center for International Law (CIL), a nonstock, nonprofit entity, represented by the law firm of Roque and Butuyan, counsel for the families of the media victims of the Maguindanao massacre, has received a $1,000 donation from the Philippine American Press Club USA (PAPC).

The PAPC was formed 22 years ago by journalists and former members of the National Press Club of the Philippines who migrated to the San Francisco Bay Area. Members belong to ABS-CBN International, Asian Journal, Filipino Gazette, Manila Mail, Philippine News, Philippines Today, Philippine Headlines, The Islander Ch. 28 Hayward and Inquirer.net.

The group extends assistance to deserving endeavors inside and outside the United States.

On Nov. 23, it will be two years since the massacre in Ampatuan, Maguindanao. Court proceedings began a year ago against the main suspects, members of the Ampatuan clan, and over 190 coconspirators. Only 93 suspects are in custody of whom 64 have been arraigned, according to lawyer Harry Roque.

The CIL was founded in 1994 to ensure that international law is implemented in crimes against media practitioners in the Philippines. It represents small provincial media companies pro bono. It receives aid from foreign donors such as the United Kingdom’s Media Legal Defense Initiative and Ozai, a US state department fund that looks into extrajudicial killings of media practitioners.