By Bong Pedalino

City (26 November) -- I devote this piece as an expression of protest in sympathy to our colleagues in the media, the helpless women, and innocent civilians who perished in the inhuman act the world now knew as the Maguindanao massacre.

pen, it has been said, is mightier than the sword. Hopefully, the pen is mightier than the bullets. More to the point, the pen should be able to deliver justice to the senseless killings.

Oh, if only words can kill.

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We take all pains and be sober in the midst of it all, trying to understand and comprehend the meaning of meaningless events, even as we mourn and cry for those who died.

We pray for strength and courage, and condole with bleeding hearts with those that need consoling in these most trying, troubled times; we offer our shoulders to weep on, to lean on for comfort, we open our arms to embrace, and let those afflicted feel the warmth of our empathy through our tight hugs.

And so, in the hope that words can strike the beasts, and move the authorities to do what was expected of them, please bear with me -- better yet join me -- this repetitive litany.

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In behalf of the civilized world, we condemn in strongest terms the brutal slaying of 57 individuals (at the last count) in Maguindanao. In behalf of the civilized world, we condemn in strongest terms the brutal slaying of 57 individuals (at the last count) in Maguindanao.

In behal of the civilized world, we condemn in strongest terms the brutal slaying of 57 individuals (at the last count) in Maguindanao. In behalf of the civilized world, we condemn in strongest terms the brutal slaying of 57 individuals (at the last count) in Maguindanao.

IN BEHALF OF THE CIVILIZED WORLD, WE CONDEMN IN STRONGEST TERMS THE BRUTAL SLAYING OF 57 INDIVIDUALS (AT THE LAST COUNT) IN MAGUINDANAO.

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Common sense dictates that justice for their deaths must be served, because we are a society of persons where the law reigns supreme, where criminals should pay for the crimes committed. Common sense dictates that justice for their deaths must be served, because we are a society of persons where the law reigns supreme, where criminals should pay for the crimes committed.

Common sense dictates that justice for their deaths must be served, because we are a society of persons where the law reigns supreme, where criminals should pay for the crimes committed. Common sense dictates that justice for their deaths must be served, because we are a society of persons where the law reigns supreme, where criminals should pay for the crimes committed.

COMMON SENSE DICTATES THAT JUSTICE FOR THEIR DEATHS MUST BE SERVED, BECAUSE WE ARE A SOCIETY OF PERSONS WHERE THE LAW REIGNS SUPREME, WHERE CRIMINALS SHOULD PAY FOR THE CRIMES COMMITTED.

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LOCAL FRONT: Jani Arnaiz, Inquirer Correspondent and President of the Associated Media of Southern Leyte (AMSL) wore a black T-shirt last Tuesday to sympathize with our fallen colleagues. He also condemned the barbaric act in Magindanao and urged journalists to wear black or black arm bands as a way of expressing disgust to the incident and sympathy to the victims.