ACTRESS Glaiza de Castro is set to return to the big screen with “58th,” a forthcoming film about the bloody Maguindanao massacre that occurred in the Philippines 15 years ago.
GMA Pictures released the official teaser of “58th,” featuring animated clips of the crime scene including the press ID of photojournalist Reynaldo “Bebot” Momay.
The one-minute and 21-second clip showed de Castro, introducing herself as Momay’s daughter through a video call.
“Tatay ko si Reynaldo Momay, ang 58th victim of the Maguindanao massacre,” she said.
In its caption, GMA Pictures said “58th” will follow Momay’s family who continues to seek justice for the photojournalist more than a decade after the Maguindanao massacre.
“Ang karumal-dumal na krimeng gumimbal sa buong mundo labing limang taon na ang nakaraan. May isang pamilya na patuloy pa ring naghihintay ng katarungan,” it wrote.
Actors Ricky Davao, Mikoy Morales, Biboy Ramirez, Marco Masa, and Zyren Dela Cruz will join the cast of “58th.”
The film will be helmed by award-winning filmmaker Carl Josep Papa, who also directed “Iti Mapukpukaw (The Missing),” the first-ever full-length animated entry at the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival and the Philippines’ entry to the 96th Academy Awards.
Meanwhile, Momay’s daughter, Ma. Reynafe Momay-Castillo, shared “58th’s” poster in red and black, with an excavator at the center.
“To forget is not an option and never will be an option,” she wrote on Facebook.
Maguindanao massacre
The Maguindanao massacre is considered the deadliest single attack on journalists ever recorded, which transpired in Sitio Masalay, Maguindanao, on November 23, 2009, during the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the May 2010 elections.
It led to the deaths of 58 people, including 32 media workers. Of this number, 57 bodies were found but Momay’s remains are still missing. The journalists were reporting on the filing of candidacy for then-gubernatorial candidate Esmael Mangudadatu when their convoy, which also carried Mangudadatu’s relatives and lawyers, was attacked.
Mangudadatu was challenging Andal Ampatuan Jr., son of Andal Ampatuan Sr., in the gubernatorial election.
Five members of the Ampatuan clan, including Ampatuan Jr. and Zaldy Ampatuan, were sentenced to reclusion perpetua without parole for the Maguindanao massacre. Their brother, Datu Sajid Islam Ampatuan, was acquitted.
Up to this day, relatives of the victims continued to seek justice, as the nation marked the 15th anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre.
