“Our loved ones were buried in the rubble like animals, we hope that this administration wouldn’t bury us in memory as well,” said Erlyn Umpad, wife of slain journalist McDelbert “Mac-mac” Areola.
Along with Editha Tiamzon, they represented the relatives of the fallen victims of Ampatuan massacre during a mobilization to commemorate its 15th year, along the streets of Mendiola on Saturday, November 23.
The Ampatuan massacre remains to be the single deadliest attack on journalists in history and the worst case of election-related violence in the Philippines, leaving 58 people dead and buried in the shallow graves of Sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman in Ampatuan, Maguindanao on November 23, 2009. Of the 58, 32 of the victims were journalists and mediaworkers.
Delayed justice amplifies culture of impunity
Journalists and mediaworkers, led by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), took to the streets to assert that full justice has yet to prevail for the victims despite the 2019 promulgation that delivered the guilty verdict to Datu Andal ‘Unsay’ Ampatuan Jr, his brothers Zaldy and Anwar Ampatuan, and 25 others.
Shortly after the verdict, the Ampatuan camp appealed for the decision within the Court of Appeals (CA) on January 2 and 3, 2020.
“15 years have passed and we are still on a partial victory for our case. We hope the [Marcos] administration would listen to our calls. It has been extremely hard to fight but we have to keep fighting to get justice for our loved ones,” said Editha Tiamzon, wife of Daniel Tiamzon of UNTV.
Tiamzon lamented that they have yet to receive an update on the pending appeal mounted by the Ampatuan camp and added that no compensation has ever been given to them despite the stipulations stated in the verdict.
In a statement, NUJP highlighted that the Ampatuan Massacre is not just a fight for justice but also a fight against impunity.
“Convictions in the case came a decade after the massacre—that delay is itself a form of injustice—and these are still on appeal, meaning there is a chance that they may yet be reversed.
Until final conviction, the families of those whose loved ones were taken on November 23, 2009 will be waiting not just for justice but also for long-needed compensation for the loss of their kin,” NUJP said.
The media guild stressed that despite the gruesome massacre, journalists in the Philippines still operate under dangerous conditions that may endanger their lives while on duty.
“These conditions also mean that many of our colleagues reporting from the regions are fully aware of the pressure that local officials can put on them to tone down stories or to leave them unreported.
That pressure includes threats of violence as well as the threat of legal cases like libel as well as of terrorism-related cases as we have seen thrown against media workers, as well as against rights defenders, activists, and missionaries and nuns.”
The Philippines ranked 9th on the Committee to Protect Journalists’ Global Impunity Index and still remain as one of the dangerous places for journalists to be in.
“We will not stop the fight for justice, not until injustices still abound. Not until journalists and ordinary citizens still face continued threats and attacks from the State and its forces,” said Marc Abila of Pinoy Weekly.
Abila cited the numerous attacks faced by members of alternative media such as the censorship of news websites Bulatlat and Pinoy Weekly, the continued red-tagging of journalists, the unlawful arrest of community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, and the killing of broadcaster Percy Mabasa as examples of violations committed against the rights of the press.
“Even if our rights to exercise freedom of expression and press freedom are supposed to be safeguarded by the Constitution and even international laws, attacks on these freedoms will continue if we still remain to be under a system in favor of powerful political dynasties like the Ampatuans and Marcoses,” Abila stressed.
Holding the line
“Media killings in the country are not just mere statistics. 200 journalists have been killed in the country since 1986. Under the Marcos Jr. administration, 5 journalists have been killed. 3 of these are perceived to be work-related: Renato Blanco, Crescensio Bunduquin, Percy Mabasa. Where is the justice for these killings? Why are their killers not apprehended?” said Len Olea, the secretary general of NUJP.
Olea emphasized that the conditions which allowed the Ampatuan massacre to take place still prevail in the country despite the tragedy in 2009.
“Powerful politicians involved in media killings are still at large. Paramilitaries and political dynasties still remain. Warlords seek seats of power in elections. We are angered that this is still the state of our country despite the tragedy of Ampatuan. These forces have the power to incite violence against their political rivals, what more can we expect when they inflict these on ordinary citizens or on journalists?” Olea decried.
NUJP reiterated that it will continue to stand with the victims of Ampatuan massacre until complete justice is served.
“It is our responsibility to stand with our colleagues because our mandate as journalists is to serve the people. We challenge the young journalists of today to look back on this incident and not feel hopeless. Rather, let this draw inspiration for you to fight for justice.
Our unity serves as our beacon of hope in our continued campaign for vindication. Let us strengthen our media alliances and organizations. Let our unity embolden our cause in seeking retribution for our colleagues and create avenues to express our right to free press. Only then can we continue to deliver our mandate to serve the people,” Olea ended.
