The political and media landscape in the Philippines has been one that is hostile to journalists and even at times, threatens their safety.
For years, journalists have been exposed to attacks ranging from online and offline harassments and threats to senseless killings. The Committee to Protect Journalists reported 48 cases of journalists killings from 2009 to 2019 in the Philippines, 41 of which are still unsolved.
On November 23, 2009, 32 journalists were killed in what is considered the single deadliest attack against the media—the Maguindanao Massacre. These journalists, along with other media workers, supporters, and family members of then Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, were in a convoy on their way to file Mangudadatu’s certificate of candidacy when this gruesome murder took place on a hilltop in the town of Ampatuan, Maguindanao.
A decade later, justice for these victims remains elusive and hostility towards journalists continues.
President Duterte himself has been quoted to encourage and justify violence against journalists, saying in 2016, “Just because you’re a journalist, you are not exempted from assassination if you’re a son of a b—.” Earlier this month, Foreign Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. blasted expletives at two reporters online for doing their job of reporting the truth.
Last July, Kidapawan radio journalist Eduardo Dizon was driving home after hosting an evening news program when two gunmen on a motorcycle shot him dead. Almost a month ago, another radio journalist, Benjie Caballero, was shot five times outside of his home in Sultan Kudarat. Two weeks ago, Dindo Generoso, a news anchor at dyEM 96.7 FM Bai Radio in Dumaguete was also gunned down while driving his car to host his regular morning radio program.
These are just some incidents, alongside many others, that show why the Philippines remains one of the deadliest countries for journalists.
It has been 10 years, but the outcry to end impunity is still the same. Justice has yet to be served for the victims of the Maguindanao Massacre.
Andal Ampatuan Sr., one of the prime suspects in the massacre, died behind bars at the age of 74 due to an illness. A number of witnesses have recanted their testimonies, while others were killed in an ambush. The Department of Justice initially said the verdict on the case could be rendered by November, but the Supreme Court has yet again allowed for the extension of the deadline to December 2019.
The families of the victims continue to cling to the hope that justice will soon be sought and meted on those behind the unforgivable crime, but the delays have done nothing but further the void they have been feeling since then.
On the 10th anniversary of the Maguindanao Massacre, the UP Journalism Club calls for justice for all the victims of the massacre, and for all the journalists who have been killed for simply doing their journalistic duty. We also call on the Filipino people to continue to stand against the culture of impunity and other attacks on the press. Enough time has passed; justice delayed is justice denied.
