In rage and grief, journalists
march against massacre

by Karol Ilagan

ON the eve of the observance of International Human Rights Day (December 10), journalists and media workers took to the streets in Mendiola, a stone’s throw from the seat of political power that is Malacanang Palace, in rage and grief. Their common call: Justice for the 57 victims of the November 23 Maguindanao Massacre, that included 31 journalists and media workers. (Click here to view the photo gallery)

Photo by Karol Ilagan

Many times before, journalists had trooped to Mendiola to cover rallies and mass actions by other groups and sectors. Yesterday was a day for journalists themselves to rally. At least 134 journalists had been killed in the Philippines since 1986. At least 97 or two-thirds of the total cases happened since President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo came to power in 2001.

Before the speeches were delivered, reporters, photographers, and cameramen laid down their pens, notebooks, recorders, and video cameras at the foot of the stage to observe a moment of silence in honor of fatalities in Maguindanao.

Photo by Karol Ilagan

“Hindi ito isang simpleng malaking storya or malaking coverage lamang. Ito ay buhay natin ngayon bilang mamamahayag [This is not simply a big story or coverage. This is our life as journalists],” said Nestor Burgos, chairperson of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP). “Pinatay ang halos isang henerasyon ng journalists sa Mindanao [Nearly a generation of journalists in Mindanao was killed.]”

“Sinasabi sa akin na hindi raw tayo dapat pumanig. Dapat maging neutral. Pero hindi po totoo iyon dahil tayo ay dapat pumanig sa katotohanan. Pumanig tayo sa katarungan, (They say we [journalists] should not take sides, that we should be neutral. But that is not true because we should stand by truth and justice).” Burgos intoned.

The rally came on the heels of humanitarian and fact-finding missions to Maguindanao organized by national and international media organizations, including the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists, NUJP, MindaNews, Southeast Asian Press Alliance, Committee to Protect Journalists, and International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

At the rally, IFJ representative Mike Dobbie called for full and transparent investigation into the Maguindanao massacre. “The people who are responsible for killing our colleagues will never again get way with murder. We stand together to send a message – we want the culture of impunity to end. We demand justice for our slain colleagues.”

Dobbie said that the Philippines is now the most dangerous country in the world for journalists.

In solidarity with Filipino journalists that day – that IFJ has declared as an international day of action against impunity – Dobbie said journalists were also marching to Philippine embassies abroad to demand an end to impunity.

Isagani Yambot, publisher of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, said that of the 134 journalists killed; only five so far have been given justice. “Hanggang ngayon, ang culture of impunity o ang kultura ng walang katarungan ay umiiral sa ating bayan. Hindi na natin matatanggap ang pagkitil ng kahit isang buhay [A culture of impunity lingers in our country. We can no longer tolerate the yet another murder.]”

In the view of Dean Rolando Tolentino of the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication (UP-CMC), the culture of impunity may cease with the exit from power of President Arroyo.

Tolentino said: “Gloria Arroyo is to blame for the culture of impunity on numerous issues. Fifty-seven were slain in Ampatuan – 31 were journalists and two were lawyers. Over a thousand were killed for being activists. This also includes her tolerating warlords in Mindanao and in other parts of the country and her declaration of martial law in Maguindanao and its impending proclamation over the whole country.”

Impunity, he added, implies two things – that it is being carried out only by those in power and that, as a result, the masses are forced to accept this type of culture.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) spokesperson Renato Reyes expressed despair over the steps taken by the government to investigate the massacre that took place two weeks ago. “Kung ang nag-i-imbistiga ay sila rin mga nag-su-supply ng armas, paano magiging matino ang martial law kung ang nagpapatupad ay mga taong lumalabag sa karapang pantao?” [If the investigators are also the arms suppliers, how could martial law be an effective response by those who are themselves behind human rights violations?]

On Dec. 4, 2009, Arroyo issued Proclamation No. 1959, declaring martial law and suspending the writ of habeas corpus in certain parts of Maguindanao. Earlier or Nov. 24, or a day after the Maguindanao massacre, she had issued Proclamation No. 1946, which put Cotabato City and the provinces of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat under a “state of emergency.”

Apart from the journalists, Wednesday’s protest action also drew students, workers, teachers, urban poor residents, religious and civil society representatives.

Photo by Karol Ilagan

The rallyists carried three mock coffins to represent the attack on the “rule of law,” “press freedom,” and “accountability” that they said the Maguindanao massacre had violated all at once. – PCIJ, December 2009