Kin of massacre victims to file complaint before UN

MANILA, Philippines - Relatives of journalists killed in the Maguindanao massacre will file a complaint against the Philippine government for its alleged failure to compensate them.

The complaint will be filed on Friday, a day before the 4th anniversary of the massacre that took place in the town of Ampatuan in Maguindanao on Nov. 23, 2009.

The case will be filed before the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, according to Harry Roque, counsel for the relatives of the 32 journalists.

“Four years after violating the right to life of the victims, their families have not received any compensation from the government,” said Roque during a forum at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City yesterday.  He said the Philippines is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which provides that every human being has the inherent right to life and should be protected by the law.