Impunity

Editorial

This statement from the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines marks six years of no justice for the Ampatuan massacre victims, most of whom were members of the media: 

Nov. 23 marks the 6th year since the Ampatuan Massacre where 58 people --- 32 of whom were journalists --- were systematically murdered en masse allegedly by a Maguindanao warlord. The journalists were part of the convoy covering the filing of candidacy of another politician. 

Since then, five potential witnesses have been killed. To date, of the 195 suspects not a single suspect was convicted and police officers are listed to be among them, 93 remain free, 28 are surnamed Ampatuan. And to rub salt to injury, the Supreme Court ordered the release of SajidAmpatuan, one of the principal suspects, after paying PP200,000 for each of the 58 counts of murder. He even filed for candidacy for the 2016 elections.

This gruesome incident paints the most horrific picture of impunity in recent history of the this country. It is recorded as the single biggest killing of media workers that earned the Philippines the third spot in the most dangerous countries for journalists in the world, next only to war torn Iraq and Syria, while there supposedly is democracy in the country. 

It is even more disturbing to note that the killing of journalists continued even after the Ampatuan Massacre. The most recent is the killing of Jose Bernardo, a correspondent of dwIZ radio and columnist of Bandera tabloid last October 31, two days before the November 2 the Unesco declared International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.  Bernardo is the 30th journalist murdered for doing his job under the reign of Benigno Aquino III. 

Alarming would be an understatement to describe the present state of the media killings in the country. Disappointing would also be inadequate to describe the failure of the government justice system to punish those responsible for the killings. There had been 166 cases of journalist killings since democracy was supposedly restored in 1986, only 13 suspected gunmen were convicted and jailed. No mastermind was ever convicted. 

The killings continue and impunity is worsening. The failure of government to arrest and punish the perpetrators breeds culture of impunity.  

This coming 2016 is yet another election year. It is again time for the people to choose their leaders and representatives in government. We urge the voting public to choose wisely not to put into power abusive and oppressive politicians not just for the safety of journalists but for the entire country as well.

We demand immediate resolution of the Ampatuan case and all other cases of media killings. We call on government to seriously go after masterminds behind these killings and not be contented with identifying the triggermen. 

We call on the public to join us to remember those killed in the Ampatuan massacre and all our other colleagues who were murdered for telling the truth. We enjoin everyone to stand with us in defending press freedom and the people's right to information. One death is too many. Extrajudicial killings have no place in a democratic society.