Good afternoon everyone.
First, thank you all for coming to listen and to hear our stories.
I am Myrna Reblando, widow of Alejandro “Bong” Reblando. He is one of
the 32 journalists murdered in the Maguindanao massacre. He writes for
the Manila Bulletin, Reuters and Associated Press. Many people knew
about this tragedy, but only few had extended help. Among the few are
you: the journalists.
By writing stories and telling others about our loved ones, stories of
ours and their families and our aspiration for justice, you also guide
us in our struggle. What I have said in the past and what I would have
to say now would not be effective had you not write about them.
I know I have a right to freedom of expression. We all should have.
For my part, I am not a journalist like you. I am the wife of a
murdered journalist who was silenced, who could no longer express his
ideas and opinion. I am here with you to also use the tool that my
husband has had: a freedom to express ones opinion, in pursuit of
justice for him and others.
I fought to uphold this value and principle in many forms.
Inside the court rooms, I could remember in one of those hearings, the
judge had asked me to leave because I cried during court hearings. She
and others wants me to leave because they do not want to see me crying
inside the court, again. I strongly insisted to stay to hear the
trial. I told her that I did not kill anyone, I only wanted to listen.
What can I do? I cannot hold my tears to fall down because of
frustration.
In my interviews with journalists, what I speak is the truth, I speak
my mind, I speak my heart and I never had any pretensions. To speak
what is truth has had a heavy cost on me, my family and my children;
however, I have also realize that not to speak the truth threatens our
aspirations to obtain justice.
For over a year, I was in hiding. In this period, my life is empty. I
felt that my person is useless and that I only think and secure
myself. I felt that those who had threatened me had achieved what they
wanted: to silence me, to push me back. I know that I could do
something.
But to speak and not to speak, is where I had the dilemma. I am ready
to die; however, I cannot put the life of my children at risk. I am
their mother. I should be the one protecting them; I should be the one
giving them protection. They have only me now; but I am not even with
them now as we speak.
Two years ago, I first came here as a guest speaker of the Foreign
Correspondents’ Club for their Human Rights Press Award. I received
the posthumous award on behalf of the murdered journalists. At that
time, I was not prepared. I was not able to explain clearly about what
happened to my husband and others.
Before, I could speak freely and I thought I had freedom and
protection. But now I am a person who is being hunted for what I have
spoken and without protection even from my own Philippine government.
Yes. I decided to leave my country because for person seeking remedies
and redress in our system of justice, like me and many countless
others, had no protection.
I am deeply thankful to the Government of Hong Kong for giving me
protection, food and providing me shelter. Thank God now I am here
alive, however, I could hardly imagine on how many occasions I was
close to death in the last two years. I did not feel protected, even
with my own security escorts.
In pursuit of justice, for me and my family the cost had been very,
very heavy. I lost my livelihood, I cannot go home and the people whom
I know could not provide me shelter when I needed the most. They fear
of getting involved, even my own relatives and friends.
When I took the responsibility of being the vice chairperson and
spokesperson for Justice Now! Movement, a group of families of the
massacre victims, I know that it is a tough job. To speak on behalf of
those who are frightened and those who could not – because of
oppression, fear and absence of protection – is a position that is
alarming and dangerous.
For those who choose to take this role in my country, most of them are
all dead now; others are struggling to stay alive. One of those dead
is Jessie Upham, one of the witnesses of the Maguindanao massacre. He
was murdered before he could testify in court.
I had been, and hope to again be, very vocal and bold to attack all
the wrongdoing evil of our government. It is sad that our government
cannot protect their own citizens, especially those people living in
rural and depressed areas. But I still hope that someday we will have
a government that is able to lead and serve its own people better, to
make us proud and for us to have peace in our country.
I did not live my life in vain. My person means a lot to me. I see my
new role very, very interesting. I was not bitter despite of all the
trials that come into my life. I strive hard to make the most of it. I
reflect and study my surroundings to hear the wisdom of other people.
I gain strength from them, too.
To express freely in pursuit of justice is possible. It is so where
there are people who are willing to listen and hear;
Where there are people who picks from where others had left;
Who will speak for those who could not speak because they are
oppressed and frighten;
Where people and groups lends their place, their time, with an open
heart and mind for us – the people who are hunted for what we have
spoken – to give us an opportunity to speak and express our opinions;
To all of us who are here, you never forget; we should and must not
forget. You listened to and heard us.
Again,
thank you all for being here with us.
