Palace: Justice for Mendiola victims not PNoy administration’s job

President Benigno Aquino III’s administration is no longer responsible in seeking justice for victims of the 1987 Mendiola massacre, a Malacañang official said Thursday.

 

At a press briefing, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said it was “unreasonable” to seek justice from the Aquino administration for an incident that happened 28 years ago.

 

“Baka naman hindi angkop o hindi napapanahon na ihahain pa ‘yan sa pintuan ng kasalukuyang administrasyon, samantalang batid naman ng lahat na hindi naman ito nangyari ngayon lang,” Coloma told reporters.

 

“Hindi naman tama, hindi naman makatwiran na ihahain ito sa responsibilidad ng kasalukuyang administrasyon,” he added.

 

In 1987, at least 13 farmers died during a violent dispersal of a protest march seeking genuine agrarian reform at Mendiola near Malacañang. 

 

The incident took place under the administration of President Aquino’s mother, the late President Corazon Aquino.

 

No one was indicted for the massacre. In 1993, the Supreme Court upheld a 1988 Manila Regional Trial Court decision to dismiss a P6.5-million class suit filed by relatives of the victims, citing the government’s immunity from suit. 

 

Nevertheless, Coloma said the administration is still “saddened” by the Mendiola massacre.

 

“Hanggang ngayon siyempre ay ikinalulungkot pa rin natin ‘yung pagkawala ng buhay,” the Palace official said.

 

“Kahit kailan naman ay hindi itinanggi na ito ay hindi sana dapat naganap at hindi naman kagustuhan ng mga namamahala ng pamahalaan noon na mayroong mapapaslang sa gitna ng isang pamamahayag,” he added.

 

Earlier in the day, militant groups held protests on the Mendiola Bridge in Manila, as well as the Aquino residence in Quezon City, to commemorate the massacre. — RSJ/NB, GMA News