The League of Filipino Students and other allied youth organizations numbering more than a thousand will march to Malacanang on Thursday to demand justice for the killings in Maguindanao, adding that accountability again rests on the Malacanang for coddling the Ampatuans during Mrs. Arroyo’s entire term of office.

“In the ultimate analysis, accountability for the Maguindanao massacre rests on the doorsteps of Malacanang. It is Mrs. Arroyo’s longs-standing political partnership with the Ampatuans that had created the conditions for bloody warlordism in Maguindanao.” This was the statement of Terry Ridon, National Chairperson of the League of Filipino Students, as the LFS criticized the reactive, even theatrical response of the Arroyo government to the killings when such warlordism and brazen display of political power had been exercised by the Ampatuans from the very beginning.

Ridon said that Mrs. Arroyo relied heavily on the Ampatuans for the consolidation of political power in Southern Philippines, stating that it was the warlord family that delivered her 2004 presidential victory and ensured the 12-0 result of Mrs. Arroyo’s senatorial candidates in the 2007 elections in the province.

He added that the unresolved political killings of more than a thousand activists by suspected state agents helped create the culture of impunity that emboldened the Ampatuans to order the senseless killings even of innocent journalists and lawyers.

“Even the butcher Palparan has been praised and supported by this regime. No wonder Mrs. Arroyo feels any chills whenever the Ampatuan warlords visit the Palace.” Ridon said.

Ridon issued a warning to Malacanang, and vowed more protests to condemn the Maguindanao massacre and electoral violence – “We shall not let these murders be forgotten. The blame lies on you Mrs. Arroyo – for coddling butchers, murderers and warlords during the entirety of your regime.”