Press Release
November 22, 2011

KIKO: NOVEMBER 23, NEVER FORGET

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan files Resolution 642 in the Senate, declaring November 23 of every year to be a national day to end impunity.

"It's been two years since the gruesome event and still our countrymen cry out for justice for the victims of the Maguindanao massacre. It was the worst single instance of electoral violence in our country's history and the deadliest affront against freedom of the press. It gave us international notoriety as one of the most dangerous places for journalists. We must never forget that day when the culture of impunity showed us its worst manifestation."

Pangilinan is joined by the International Freedom of Expression Network in declaring November 23 as the International Day to End Impunity. Pangilinan also reiterates his call for the Judiciary and the police to put an end to the widespread killings and attempts to kill journalists in the country.

"Until when will we have to wait for justice to be served? It is exactly this failure to solve all, save for a pitiful handful, of these murder cases, as well as an ineptitude in enforcing existing laws, that has bred this culture of impunity. The government must exhaust all efforts to bring justice to those victims and expedite the countless unsolved cases of extrajudicial killings. Until then, let us never forget the date when this culture of impunity reared its ugly and deadly head, costing us the lives of 58 innocent civilians, including 32 media workers. We support the declaration of November 23 of every year as a National Day to End Impunity and we vow to never forget what this means for us."

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