Gov't forces are now in hot pursuit against the suspects in the recent Maguindanao Massacre
By 3M Editorial Board
The worst to hit the
This senseless violence must be stopped totally where the killing that involved women and a dozen of journalists went beyond the issue of freedom of the press.
Even in the annals of political violence in the
The massacre took place a few hours after around 50 gunmen led by Andal Ampatuan Jr., the Mayor of Shariff Aguak with the entire local police force, para military forces led Police Senior Inspector Dicay which the military has confirmed goes beyond the issue of freedom of the press and of expression and strikes at the very foundations of democracy,
The abduction and murder of around 45 persons in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao is a spear thrust in the heart of our fragile democracy.
Victims were identified as Bart Maravilla of Bombo Radyo-Koronadal, Henry Araneta of DZRH-Cotabato, Bong Reblando of the Manila Bulletin, and Neneng Montano of radio station DXCP.
Ian Toblan, Leah Dalmacio, Gina dela Cruz, Marites Cabutas, Joy Duhay, Andy Teodoro, Mac-Mac Areola, and Jimmy Cabillo as among the victims that are identified by the MMM as the members of the media whose affiliations were not immediately available.
Most of the 36 or so victims were shot but some were run over by vehicles.
The Mangagawang Media ng Mindanao (MMM) is a newly organized group of Mindanao working media from Pagadian,Iligan,Ozamis,Oroquieta, and Cagayan de oro Cities strongly denounce the abduction and subsequent killing of several individual, including our comrade members of the media in what appears to be another case of politics –related violence not only in the recent Maguindanao Province, but all of Mindanao.
“We also strongly condemn this incident since the elections and even the campaign period has not even started and yet brutal massacre has taken place done by a political group in Maguindanao.
This incident should jolt the government as well as the poll body “to tighten’ security measures to minimize this kind if incidents.”
The authorities should immediately identify the people behind this incident to show the public that we don’t tolerate such violence.
The government must without question bring those responsible for this massacre to justice, not just the killers but also the masterminds, whoever they are.”
Erstwhile Malacanang had issued a state of emergency to Maguindanao province and the PNP had sacked four PNP Officials and tapped the NBI, AFP and other law enforcement to conduct a full investigation of the gruesome incident.
Other media organizations also has issued statements on its condemnation on the massacre incidents such as the National Press Club (NPC), Alyansa ng Filipinong Mamahayag (Afima), NUJP, KBP and the Philippine Center for Photojournalism ( PCP)
“we demand an immediate, thorough investigation of the incident and the arrest of the perpetrators," was the issued PCP Statement.
The Confederation of Asean Journalists (CAJ) has prioritized its action plan after the massacre of journalists on its recent concluded 16th general Assembly which was held in Kuala Lumpur last September 30 to October 4 which observed that regarding the seemingly endless violence and murders of journalists in the Philippines and are seriously concerned with the situation and strongly urges the Philippine government to try harder to protect the safety of journalists
The CAJ leadership calls on CAJ affiliates and Asean media to fully implement the
Even as media was getting the names of those killed, even as the Mayor Mangadadatu confirmed on television about how his wife called him to report being waylaid, even as Major General Alfredo Cayton of the 6th Infantry Division and Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner Jr.
confirmed that the 21 bodies had been recovered in Ampatuan town at around 4:30 p.m., the Public Information Office of the PNP continued to insist they knew nothing of the incident.
Let us grieve not just for our media colleagues -- though theirs is an especially tragic fate, to die in the line of duty, serving a profession that more often than not deprives provincial practitioners of a living wage and social benefits.
Let us grieve, too, for the other dead: the wife of a mayor, lawyers, drivers and followers. Let us grieve most for democracy, for election-related violence violates our people's right to an enlightened choice of leaders. Election-related violence prevents people from asking tough questions of prospective leaders; that violence is almost always aimed at subverting a people's free will.
"We stand in solidarity with our friends from media and we shall provide all necessary support to assuage their fears and grief," she said.
“Never in the history of journalism have the news media suffered such a heavy loss of life in one day," Reporters Without Borders said. “We convey our condolences and sympathy to all journalists in the
The press freedom organization added: “We have often condemned the culture of impunity and violence in the
"We stand in solidarity with our friends from media and we shall provide all necessary support to assuage their fears and grief," she said.
“Never in the history of journalism have the news media suffered such a heavy loss of life in one day,"
Reporters without Borders said. “We convey our condolences and sympathy to all journalists in the
Other press freedom organization added that; “We have often condemned the culture of impunity and violence in the
13 female and eight male - have so far been recovered from the Maguindanao massacre.
Meanwhile, knowing that it would be suicidal for him to venture into Ampatuan territory, Mayor Esmael Toto Mangudadatu sent his wife and two sisters, believing that fellow Muslims would not dare harm the women. For good measure, the women were accompanied by lawyers and media professionals. They were all abducted anyway. A source familiar with the two families says there is little hope that any one of the hostages survived.
As of press time, Mayor Toto Mangudadatu confirmed that there were four survivors in the crime and they are now in their hands.
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