The words ‘The Maguindanao Massacre’ written in red ink are displayed on the yellow shirt of one of the protesters in front of the Department of Justice on P. Faura Street in Manila. (Photo by LINUS GUARDIAN ESCANDOR)

DAVAO CITY — Relatives, friends, and colleagues of the 57 people who died in the Maguindanao massacre are calling for the immediate resignation of the Department of Justice secretary for his decision on dismissing the multiple murder charge against two of the Ampatuan respondents.

In General Santos City, members of the Heirs of 11/23 Heroes who are composed of relatives of the massacre victims staged a protest rally at the Hall of Justice as the they called for the resignation of Justice Secretary Alberto Agra, who earlier ordered the dismissal of murder charges against Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Zaldy Ampatuan and Maguindanao Vice Governor Akmad Ampatuan for lack of evidence.

Merly Perante, wife of journalist Ronnie Perante, expressed her utmost disgust on Agra’s decision.

“Masakit talaga sa loob. Gusto ko na talaga magwala sa sama ng loob. Wala talaga syang puso. Sana maranasan nya rin ang mga naranasan naming ngayon. Sana umpisa ngayong gabi 'di na sya patulugin ng kanyang konsensya,” Perante said.

Senator Francis Pangilinan also blasted Agra’s decision calling it a dumb move.

“Didn’t Secretary Agra stop to think that Governor Zaldy Ampatuan may have deliberately stayed out of ARMM on the day of the killings so he could claim innocence later on? If the Secretary isn’t dumb, then it appears he is playing dumb,” Pangilinan said.

“The legal basis is rotten to the core. This is a shameless and despicable whitewash of the highest order. We condemn this DOJ order to absolve Zaldy Ampatuan of any involvement in the crime. We condemn the Arroyo administration’s maneuver that provides aid to a staunch political ally. Indeed, former GMA spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo’s words spoke the truth, that the long-standing friendship of GMA and the Ampatuans will not be affected by the massacre,” he added.

Journalists from all over the country meanwhile wore black on Monday in protest to the “concerted decision of the palace and the acting justice secretary to release the Ampatuans”.

In a statement by the Defense Press Corps Manila, the group expressed their support for the families of the Maguindanao massacre victims as they called for Agra’s resignation.

“In behalf of the Defense Press Corps, I demand the immediate resignation of acting Justice Secretary Alberto Agra for exonerating two members of the Ampatuan clan from the multiple murder charges filed against them in connection with the grisly killings of 57 people, 32 of them journalists. We express our full support to the families who search for justice for their loved ones,” said press corps president Florante Solmerin.

Bishop Felixberto Calang, chairperson of human rights group Barug Katungod Mindanao, meanwhile said that Agra’s decision “shatters any hope of justice for the families, and also for the human rights advocates in Mindanao, the country and even the international community that have condemned the killing since day one.”

“We will continue to fight, we will oppose their release,” lawyer Harry Roque said, referring to the Ampatuan suspects.

Roque stands as the counsel for a group of widows and aggrieved relatives of slain journalists in the November 23 slaughter in n Barangay Salman, Ampatuan, Maguindanao which took the lives of at least 57 people. Some 30 media practitioners were killed in the mass murder.