THE COMMUNICATION and Political Science Departments, together with various journalism groups, held an update forum to commemorate the 62nd month of the Ampatuan massacre and to decry the numerous cases of media killings in the country.

The massacre, allegedly masterminded by Andal Ampatuan Jr., found 58 civilians and media personnel dead on November 29, 2009 in the middle of a reported political feud between the Ampatuans and the Mangudadatus.

The forum, held on January 26 at the Social Sciences Building Case Study Room, was held in partnership with the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), the Konrad Adenauer Asian Center for Journalism (ACFJ) at the Ateneo de Manila University and the Rizal Library.

NUJP is an organization that spearheads various programs for press freedom and journalist welfare, while the ACFJ is an organization that provides scholarships, conferences, programs and courses for aspiring journalists.

During the forum, NUJP Secretary-General Rupert Mangilit discussed the contents of an international mission report, which discussed the status of press freedom and democracy in Mindanao.

The report called for three main points: An independent review of the witness protection program, progress reports on the 54 priority cases of media killings, and for President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to publicly condemn the killing of journalists and provide assistance to the families.

The report was published on January 23 by the NUJP and the International Federation of Journalists, the largest journalistic trade union organization in the world.

Mangilit said, “Maguindanao and other prior cases of media killings have yet to be solved… and this encourages people in power to silence more journalists given the confidence that they can get away with murder easily.”

According to him, there are 164 journalists involved in 54 pending priority cases of media killings aside from the Ampatuan massacre in the Supreme Court. Mangilit commented that these cases were only priority in mere words, taking into account the lack of results in the investigations.

Mangilit also noted that at least 34 journalists have been killed under Aquino’s administration alone, calling into question the president’s response to media killings.

In addition, two potential witnesses were killed in Shariff Aguak last November 2014, four days before the five-year anniversary of the massacre.

The forum also featured Angkan, Inc., a documentary of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, which details the extent of several clans’ power in Maguindanao.

Communication Chair Severino Sarmenta Jr., PhD said that the documentary showed how power struggles in Mindanao run deeper than religion.

Seeking justice

Mangilit said that there are numerous factors that still hinder the families of the massacre victims to attain justice.

He notes that one factor is the sluggish pace of the case, which has delayed the prospect of securing any potential convictions any time soon.

“A conviction may be possible in 2015 before the [end of the year], but five years after the massacre, no single suspect has been convicted,” said Mangilit.

He added that although the accused Ampatuans are currently detained in the National Bureau of Investigation, there are allegations that they stay in air-conditioned cells and are allowed to freely use cellular phones. Thus, it is likely that the Ampatuans are still able to wield power from the prison.

He further stressed that since September 2014, journalists have been barred from covering the court proceedings, which is “tantamount to denying the victim’s families their right to know.”

Mangilit also urged Ateneans to register a collective voice online and offline to call for justice for the victims of the Ampatuan massacre and other media killings.

“Your voice will help us not only in upholding press freedom, but also democracy and goodwill in the Philippines,” he said.

Those left behind

Editha Timazon, a widow of one of the victims, was also at the forum to express gratitude for those who still remember the killings and are actively seeking justice.

“I am thankful for the support of the NUJP because they still haven’t given up on the case,” she said.

Tiamzon’s husband, television network UNTV crew member Daniel Tiamzon, was one of the 58 people who were buried by armed militants in the three mass graves in Maguindanao.

The seven vehicles that were part of the victims’ convoy, including the UNTV broadcast van, were later on dropped in the same ditches.

“Before they dropped the UNTV van [into the ditch], my husband was directly underneath,” Tiamzon said.

It was another three days after the start of the excavation before the body of Daniel Tiamzon could be recovered.

Mangilit said that the families left behind by the victims continue to suffer from the loss of a loved one. “The plight of the families now, they are the lingering victims of this shameless crime and as long as the case drags on, they will remain.”

Future journalists

In her speech, ACFJ Executive Director Estelle Ladrido said that gatherings such as the forum were important especially in light of the many dangers that journalism graduates are exposed to.

“More than simply reminding us, we need interaction and intervention… to see that there are many who share this concern of abuse of power, a consequence of which is the unresolved and unaddressed murder of journalists,” she said.

The GUIDON Editor-in-Chief (EIC) Mara Cepeda, The Commotion EIC Gab Espedido and Matanglawin Associate Editor Rhea Lorag were also present to deliver solidarity messages as campus journalists.

The GUIDON and Matanglawin are part of the Ateneo’s Confederation of Publications while The Commotion is the official publication of the Ateneo Association of Communication Majors (Acomm).

Cepeda said that The GUIDON, as an organization with a good number of student journalists who plan to enter the industry, condemns the culture of impunity in media killings.

“The Ampatuan massacre, albeit being the biggest case, is not the only case [of media killings in the country]. There are scores and scores of journalists who have been killed because of what they did or what they said on their shows,” she said.

Cepeda said The GUIDON is fortunate because it has not experienced the curtailing of its press freedom.

“On behalf of other staffers and editors, we hope that this culture of impunity continues to stop so that we will be able to give inspiration to people like us who want to become journalists… But for now, we will continue telling the story that yearns to be told,” she said.

Cepeda also noted that a good number GUIDONeers plan to enter the industry despite the unresolved cases of media killings in the Philippines.

In his speech, Espidido said that the issue of slayings is relevant to Acomm because the organization also represents students who aspire to become journalists.

He said that the deaths in Mindanao have struck journalists and media men with apprehension for their professions.

“We, the youth, deserve a better future than this… Justice has not been served for five long years… However, we cannot and will not stop hoping that this issue will be resolved in the future,” he said.

Lorag said that the experience of the massacre still has not ended. “The intimidation and merciless killings of witnesses and people who try to expose the truth behind this issue still has not ceased.”

What do you think about this story? Send your comments and suggestions here: tgdn.co/2ZqqodZ