The Philippine Online Chronicles

Construction workers unearthed a media vest, a shoe sole, sunglasses and a press identification document at the site of the Maguindanao massacre last week while working on a shrine to commemorate the unfortunate victims.

Provincial Engineer Abdulrakman Asim who is overseeing the nearly-completed P3 million multi-purpose building said his workers recovered the items while constructing a concrete fence around the vicinity.

“The items were found buried in the pit where the vehicles and bodies of the massacre victims found some two years ago,” Asim said.

Ampatuan town police officer-in-charge Macapagal Ampatuan said the media vest may have been owned by Mindanao Examiner and Central Mindanao Inquirer reporter Andy Teodoro.

The faded press identification document and spent shells of M16 and M14 rifles were found two weeks ago.

Meanwhile, the Center for International Law (CIL) represented by the Roque and Butuyan law firm accepted a donation of $1,000 from the Philippine American Press Club (PAPC).

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

Harry Roque, the victims’ lawyer, said it will be two years since the Nov. 23 massacre but only 93 suspects are in custody with only 64 having been arraigned.

On Nov. 23, Filipino media will be commemorating the second anniversary of the infamous Maguindanao massacre.

The military and local officials have been tapped to provide security for both national and international media who will visit the site.

According to Bureau of Public Information of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BPI-ARMM) Director Ali G. Macabalang, some of the media will also be covering an electoral recall in five villages of Rajah Buayan in Maguindanao. The recall involves the Ampatuan clan, the main suspect to the massacre.

Macabalang wrote to authorities to inform them of the situation and to ask for their help.