From brutality to accountability

STAGGERING. This best describes how the Philippine news media community is currently experiencing more than a month after the Ampatuan massacre last Nov. 23 that killed at least 57 people, 32 of them journalists and media workers. Even then, it has to move forward from this sorry condition to fully get back to the crucial business of reporting about the real state of the country and its peoples. And seeking accountability for the brutality will be its most pressing challenge in moving forward. Bringing before the bar of justice the people responsible for the crime will be a Editor’s Note major eff ort to pursue. Another will be a more vigorous campaign to battle the culture of impunity. This is the very social circumstance that shaped up the character of the massacre perpetrators. In this edition of the PECOJON Digest, we train our sight on the signiicant issues related to the Nov. 23 massacre in aid of making sense of the dire event. In his story “Patience in search of justice,” long-time justice beat reporter Karlon Rama shows us the legal landscape attendant to the struggle to seek accountability for the brutality suff ered by the victims of the Ampatuan massacre. This provides us a peek into the hard realities FOUNDED in 2004 by Filipino and German journalists, PECOJON - The Peace of litigation in which crafty and Confl ict Journalism Network, unites reporters, editors, photographers and academicians and other communication professionals under the goal of providing moves are equally vital as the human, confl ict-sensitive and quality reporting of confl ict, crisis and war. weight of evidence to prove a Through this type of reporting, it aims to empower people in the most challenging case. moments of their lives to make well-informed decisions and reclaim control over their A sidebar story summarizes situation despite the manipulative power of propaganda and the painful experience of confl ict and war. the arguments of several Ampatuan clan members in Along this principal goal, PECOJON seeks to develop the capacity of the news industry to undertake confl ict-sensitive journalism. 1 T h e P e a c e a n d C o n f l i c t J o u r n a l i s m N e t w o r k

CONTENTS PAGE TITLE answer to allegations they planned and carried out the massacre. Mindanao-based journalist Ryan Rosauro’s “Counting deaths and toll on the living” tries to fathom the impact of the massacre on the Philippine news media community which continues to stagger with the event up to now. 4PATIENce AMPATUANS BELIE IN SEARCH OF JUSTICE WITNESS CLAIM An accompanying article describes the eff ort of the National Union 5 of Journalists of the Philippines to set up a Justice Fund to bankroll activities geared at seeking accountability for the incident and the related circumstances that contributed to the shape up of events leading COUNTING DEATHS to the carnage. 12 GROUPS RESPOND AND TOLL ON THE LIVING TO MASSACRE AFTERMATH “Clans in clash” provides us a historical look at the relationship 17 between the Mangudadatu and Ampatuan families, and tries to trace the source of their falling out. A sidebar story by Ben Jason Tesiorna, “Starting them young?” 18 describes how some scions of both the Mangudadatu and Ampatuan PEN VS. SWORD PHOTO ESSAY clans were reared into the gun culture widely prevalent in their home communities. A photo essay by Rommel G. Rebollido, “Pen vs Sword,” takes us to the emotion-illed and gripping moments in the wake of the massacre. 27 STARTING THEM YOUNG? In this edition, and hopefully in the others that follow, we feature CLANS IN CLASH 28 viewpoints that enrich the body of knowledge underpinning the practice of conlict-sensitive reporting. The editorial, “Uncovering the coverage landscape” is an attempt to squeeze lessons from the incident on reporting about sensitive topics from conlict-ridden areas like Maguindanao. We also run here a piece by Antonia Koop, “An Open Letter to Non- EDITOR'S NOTE EDITORIAL: AN OPEN journalists,” which she wrote in the aftermath of the massacre. It is 1FROM BRUTALITY 30uncovering the 33LETTERTO an appeal for greater public ‘ownership’ of the journalism profession TO ACCOUNTABILITY coverage landscape NON-JOURNALISTS and hence, also public obligation to protect the lives of journalists. Journalism is not about journalists; it is about public interest. Beyond the enormous loss, it can be categorically said that journalists in the Philippines have found themselves in greater community with one another in the aftermath of the massacre. This can be the situation- OUR COVER. Erlyn Umpad weeps while grieving for her loved one, changing asset for them, not only to cope, but to overcome.I UNTV reporter McDelbert Arriola who was killed along with 57 others in Maguindanao on Nov. 23. Cover photo by Rommel Rebollido PECOJON Digest remembers the Nov. 23 massacre by the colors of its cover. Black joins the families, rela ves and friends in mourning those 2 killed and red reminds the ruthless killings on that day. T h e P e a c e a n d C o n f l i c t J o u r n a l i s m N e t w o r k D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 9 5 of 57 people, 32 of whom were media Akmad Ampatuan, Shariff Aguak Mayor practitioners, in Sitio Masalay, Barangay Anwar Ampatuan, Acting Maguindanao Patience in search of justice Salman, Ampatuan town, Maguindanao. Governor Sajid Ampatuan, and Krauner On the other hand, the Philippine Ampatuan have yet to be charged in Court Swift justice has been a persistent cry of though. those who lost loved ones in the Ampatuan National Police has detained six other massacre. Yet, the Philippine legal system members of the Ampatuan family, all Complaints, which include rebellion, provides enough opportunity for the taken within hours after the President’s have also been iled against them and accused to prolong the process. imposition of Martial Law over the entire over 600 more people. As of this writing, Maguindanao province on Dec. 5, 2009. these are still undergoing preliminary Former Maguindanao Governor investigation. Andal Ampatuan Sr., Autonomous Region for Muslin Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Complaints Zaldy Ampatuan, Mamasapano Vice Mayor Defense lawyer Sigfrid Fortun, who represents Andal Jr. in what is sure to be a lengthy legal battle, has already accused the justice department of bias. He highlighted his point by telling a panel of prosecutors last Dec. 18 that Andal Jr. was not Text by Karlon N. Rama and COURTS. Government prosecutors fi le murder going to submit a photos by Froilan O. Gallardo charges against Andal Ampatuan Jr., at a local counter-afidavit. court in Cotabato City. The panel was then conducting Its doors then forced CACHE. Hundreds of rounds of ammunition for machineguns, mortars the preliminary a yawning chasm great, Roman philosopher, “but they grind and rifl es were found by government troops in hastily dug pits around investigation on the Shariff Aguak town. Unfolding giant wings attached with pins exceedingly ine.” Of brass in two-way hinges. Chairperson Leila De Lima of the Squealing dins Commission on Human Rights reminds The air with painful moans, journalists and victims’ families not to Ampatuans belie witness claim as doors ixed fast take the law into their hands, following With rows of riveted bolts FOUR of the six Ampatuan family members the police held following the Nov. 23 killings in an incident where journalists mobbed wheel lazily past Maguindanao have formally denied any involvement to the incident and, in separate counter- and hurt Andal Ampatuan Jr., principal affi davits, cited a lack of direct evidence linking them to any crime. -- Parmenides’ maidens persuade suspect in the Nov. 23 massacre. Brothers Zaldy, Sajid Islam and Anwar, as well as cousin Akmad Ampatuan, all of whom hold vengeful Justice to open Her Gates “Irrespective of what we think or feel, public offi ce in Maguindanao, claimed they were not aware of the massacre, with one saying everyone has human rights, even suspects he was with President Arroyo when the killing took place. THE gates of justice turn on slow and convicted criminals. Violators of the In a three-page affi davit, subscribed before Assistant City Prosecutor Venchito Bangayan of hinges and the private complainants in the law have limited rights but have rights General Santos, Zaldy, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governor, called the murder cases against an indicted member nonetheless. The only limitations are allega ons of a witness a “sham”. of the Ampatuan family, as well as others those set by law, such as restrictions to The witness, Kenny Dalagdag, is an alleged member of the Ampatuans’ supposed private still undergoing preliminary investigation, right of liberty on account of detention,” army who claimed to be present during a mee ng a day before the killings at the Shariff Aguak can only wait. De Lima said. home of Andal Ampatuan Sr. Yet comfort may lie in the surviving Andal Jr. stands charged with 56 The plan to kill the journalists and supporters of Buluan town vice mayor Esmael “Toto” words of the late Sextus Empiricus. “The counts of murder before the Regional Ampatuan belie X11 mills of the gods grind slow,” says the Trial Court (RTC) for the Nov. 23 massacre T h e P e a c e a n d C o n f l i c t J o u r n a l i s m N e t w o r k D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 9 7

remaining 16 of the now 56 counts of A counter-afidavit is a legal document allegedly trying to go up in arms against that not giving the trial court enough elbow murder against him. whereby the respondent in a complaint the government following Andal Jr.’s Nov. room to separate the chaff from the grain gives He also announced that other answers the allegations leveled. 27 arrest. token justice at the expense of the credibility immediate Ampatuan family members, Process The others indicted include Vice of the judiciary. Governor Akmad Tato Ampatuan, Goldo whom he also represents, will also not be The legal process starts with a Doubt has already been cast against the Ampatuan, Abdulla Kaliangat Ampatuan, submitting counter-afidavits in so far as complaint, executed in the form of an judiciary this early, following the refusal of Kusain Akmad Sakilan, Jovel Vista Lopez, murder is concerned. afidavit containing an allegation that Judge Luisito Cortez, presiding over the 84th Rommy Gimba Mamay, Sammy Duyo The justice department irst iled 25 a certain person or group of persons branch of the RTC in Cotabato City, to accept Villanueva, Ibrahim Tukya Abdulkadir, counts of murder against Andal Jr. last committed an illegal act before the DOJ. the cases. Samil Manalao Mindo, Amaikugao Dec. 1. The cases were lodged before the It was his refusal which moved the The DOJ then gives the accused, known Obab Dalgan, Billy Cabaya Gabriel Jr., Cotabato City Regional Trial Court, which Supreme Court to transfer the case to Quezon as respondent, opportunity to refute the Moneb Smair Ibrahim, Umpa Ugka has jurisdiction over where the massacre City, at the National Capital Region, where it allegation, via a counter-afidavit. Yarya, Manding Abdulkadir, Dekay Idra took place. got rafled to 49-year old Judge Jocelyn Solis- Ulama, Kapid Gabriel Cabay, Koka Bating In the process of preliminary Reyes of branch 221. Additional 15 counts of murder were investigation, the assigned prosecutor Managilid, Sammy Ganda Macabuat, Duca iled by the Department of Justice (DOJ) studies the evidences and both the Lendungan Amban, and Akmad Abdulijah De Gracia, a Supreme Court judicial last Dec. 9 after processing documents complaint-afidavit and the counter- Ulilisen. excellence award recipient and current for 15 more victims. It was also iled with coordinator of the Philippine Judicial Academy afidavit to determine whether there is The Criminal Investigation and the Cotabato RTC and submitted before (Philja) for the Visayas and Mindanao, says the probable cause to believe that a crime Detection Group of the Philippine the cases were transferred to the Quezon Rules of Court indeed provides the accused a was committed and that the accused is National Police, on the other hand, have City RTC in compliance with a Supreme vast array of suits, motions and petitions with probably responsible. identiied ive other supposed leaders in Court order dated Dec. 8. which to delay the proceedings. If a respondent the alleged rebellion, an allegation later declines to submit used to justify the imposition of martial He conirmed that Andal Jr. can indeed a counter-afidavit, law, as Rajah Buayan Mayor Yacob question the validity of the cases against him the prosecutor Ampatuan, Mamasapano Mayor Banarin by iling a motion that asks the RTC to order is compelled Ampatuan, Datu Ulo Ampatuan, Datu Ipi a reinvestigation on the 56 counts of murder, to resolve the Ampatuan and Datu Kanor Ampatuan. alleging lack of probable cause. complaint based The agency also indicted members If denied, he can ile a motion for only on the of the Philippine National Police, the reconsideration and a petition for review evidence at hand. Bureau of Jail Management and Penology that can reach all the way to the Ofice of the If probable and some Army regulars. They submitted President. Only when probable cause is inally cause is counter-afidavits during a televised determined can the court even begin to hear determined, clariicatory conference last Dec. 28. the case. the prosecutor The number of indicted individuals But while the process would delay the prepares an alone, if all cases reach the court, indicates proceeding, de Gracia explains, it will also “information” a behemoth of a criminal proceeding in mean the prolonged detention of the Andal which is lodged the making. Jr., who is being held without bail. before the court. Swift “In the end, expediting the proceedings is what is best for both the people and the What people want, noted retired accused,” he said. RAID. PNP Special forces raid several houses of the Ampatuan clan in Behemoth Cebu Regional Trial Court judge Fortunato Shariff Aguak, searching for evidence that could be linked to the massacre Maneuver of 57 civilians, including 32 journalists. The totality de Gracia, is that the Ampatuans are all of the complaints sentenced to jail and that the sentencing De Gracia instead anticipates that Last Dec. 21, days after Fortun indicts 638 people and of whom only 25 is done swiftly. the Ampatuans will forgo what remedies are in custody so far. manifested that they were not submitting But the former executive judge, are available to them at the preliminary a counter-afidavit, the justice department It includes one for murder against during whose term the accused in both the investigation stage and proceed directly with lodged 16 more counts of murder against Andal Sr., as well as rebellion against murders of journ alists Edgar Damalerio trial. Andal Jr., bringing the total to 56 cases him, three of his sons – Zaldy, Sajid and and Marlene Esperat were convicted in The Ampatuan legal camp has already already in court. Anwar – and 20 other individuals, for 2005 and 2006 respectively, also worries signaled that they are taking this route when T h e P e a c e a n d C o n f l i c t J o u r n a l i s m N e t w o r k D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 9 9 they, last Dec. 3, submitted a petition for The Supreme Court, in previous decisions, considered the Ampatuan family’s private army. “There is no such creature as a warrantless bail before a trial court in Cotabato City. The including its Oct. 4, 2007 en banc ruling in Frias They also questioned why the Ampatuans search in a ny feature of martial law,” said criminal pleading was attached to the docket rafled to vs. People, declared that “the right to question the warranted martial law but the nearby-camped lawyer Atty. Jade Ponce of the Cebu City-based Judge Solis-Reyes of Quezon City. suficiency of (an) Information is not absolute” Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) forces, Aumentado Duallo and Ponce Law Ofice. and that an accused is “deemed to have waived By submitting a petition for bail, the defense whose organization has waged a secessionist war “If indeed the items were recovered pursuant this right if he fails to object upon his arraignment will compel the judge to direct the prosecution against the government for years, did not. to a warrantless search, the rules of court won’t to present its evidence and witnesses. The or during trial.” Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr., speaking during the let it become admissible as evidence,” he added. defense can then cross-examine the witnesses “It actually cures the defects,” de Gracia said. joint session of the House of Representatives “The (framers of the) 1987 Constitution and present their own evidences. At any rate, he added, trial will take time and and the Senate which discussed the president’s created a soft martial law as a reaction to decades If granted, Ampatuan will be allowed to the public must trust the process. imposition, said martial law provided “more of a of oppressive martial rule under Marcos,” agrees post bail while the trial on the murder cases Tradeoff psychological tool than a legal one.” Atty. Gloria Estanzo-Ramos, a professor of political continues. law at the University of Cebu. And shortcuts, like the warrantless searches Indeed, Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer, who But while the mere existence of the of and seizures that followed the president’s took over Maguindanao as the highest military Paragraph 4 of Section 18, which gives the the petition will get people following the case imposition of martial law from Dec. 5 to 11, actually commander on the ground following the President power to declare martial law, also worked up, de Gracia says getting the court to pose a disservice not only to the prosecution but imposition, announced during a press conference deines what can and cannot happen under such allow Ampatuan’s release on bail will actually to justice in general, says Cebu lady lawyer Ligaya that the military would be conducting arrests regime. be a secondary consideration for the defense, Barcenas. and searches that would be “warrantless” while “A state of martial law does not suspend as granting the petition remains all up to the martial law remained in eff ect. the operation of the Constitution, nor supplant judge’s appreciation of the strength of the Already, says the daughter of a former Marcos But even as Justice Secretary Agnes the functioning of the civil courts or legislative prosecution’s evidence. political detainee, due process violations “done in the false understanding” of the president’s martial Devanadera, speaking with Locsin during the joint assemblies, nor authorize the conferment of “What they would really want is to force law “endanger those cases that will be iled” against session, seems to suggest that martial law allowed jurisdiction on military courts and agencies over the prosecution to reveal their case,” de Gracia the 638 individuals the police have named, as warrantless arrests, searches and seizures, these civilians where civil courts are able to function,” explained. “warrantless arrests remain illegal and evidence have all been stripped away under the present the Constitutional provision says. “Once that happens, they can prepare a obtained in illegal searches remain inadmissible Constitution. The Supreme Court, in a litany of decisions, solid defense, if they have not done so already,” in court”, martial law notwithstanding. he added. Whatever President Arroyo’s real intent was He noted how the defense is playing its when she imposed martial law, the public will card close to the table and has not revealed never fully know. In her speeches, she declared anything that the prosecutors could exploit. that it was to quell an impending rebellion He said the defense is also being consistent which Ampatuan supporters were gearing up for about it, referring to how they have not asked following Andal Jr.’s arrest. for a preliminary investigation against Andal However, journalists who trooped to Jr.’s case as well as not submitting a counter- Maguindanao following the Nov. 23 massacre, and afidavit to the one against his father and the who stayed in the area for weeks thereafter, never latter’s co-respondents. reported seeing any evidence of such “impending “Submitting a counter-afidavit will reveal rebellion.” your defense,” he explained. Answers would have been forthcoming during De Gracia said government prosecutors the session the Senate and Congress jointly held rarely dismiss complaints involving heinous after the imposition, but the President lifted it crimes at the level of the preliminary before the record got straightened. investigation anyway. Some question the timing of the imposition, But opting to go directly to trial with saying it came after media reported the police and a motion for bail is not without cost to the the military’s discovery of government-procured defense, particularly since once Ampatuan is irearms and ammunitions supplied to “civilian arraigned, he seals later avenues to point out volunteer organizations” and Citizens Armed ARMORY. Hundreds of rounds of ammunition for machineguns, mortars and rifl es whatever defects may lie in the cases iled Forces Geographical Units (CAFGUs)”, which turned out to be the same people the government are displayed after having been seized by government troops in different parts around against him. Shariff Aguak town. T h e P e a c e a n d C o n f l i c t J o u r n a l i s m N e t w o r k D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 9 11

itself and deemed a mere aggravating circumstance to the main off ense. Ampatuans belie... from P5 But Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera has assured that Mangudadatu, according to Dalagdag, was supposedly hatched during that mee ng, government will be prosecuting which was likewise allegedly a ended by the brothers, Akmad and several others. two cases against the Ampatuans - Zaldy, in his affi davit, said he was nowhere near Shariff Aguak on Nov. 22, saying murder and rebellion. he was at his Juna Subdivision home in Davao City, a ending to a visitor, one Ulama “The cry for justice increases day Acad. by day,” Devanadera acknowledged He stressed that it was impossible for him to have been in that mee ng, Davao City to reporters a month after the being 300 kilometers or so away from Shariff Aguak, a fi ve-hour trip by land. massacre. Prior to this, Zaldy said, he was in Manila. He claimed to have le for Davao on Nov. Journalists should not allow other 20 to a end his youngest son’s birthday. bigger stories to bury developments “Plainly, the present complaint against me is u erly insuffi cient to indict me for a on the massacre, she added.I plot to murder innocent civilians. Again, it is premised on a single general allega on EVIDENCES. Department of Justice personnel that I supposedly a ended a purported mee ng at Shariff Aguak on Nov. 22, 2009,” carry boxes of death certifi cates and other he said. documents during the fi ling of the case against “Aside from the fact that this is not true, complainant did not even specify any act Andal Ampatuan Jr. by government prosecutors allegedly commi ed by me that would indicate my complicity thereon and jus fy my in Cotabato City. indictment for a serious criminal charge,” Zaldy added. It was the ARMM governor who claimed to have been with President Arroyo in Malacañang on the day of the killings. has dismissed criminal cases with inality He said they had a mee ng with Reps. Yusop Jikiri, Munir Arbison, and other poli cal because the evidences used by the prosecution leaders of the province of Sulu, and discussing the peace and order situa on. were all illegally obtained and inadmissible. He said he only learned of the killings a er the mee ng. “Pieces of evidence which were not legally “I am thus surprised that I am one of those being linked to said incident when I was obtained cannot be admitted as evidence in not even in Mindanao when the same occurred,” he said. court. At the very core of the Bill of Rights is On the other hand, Sajid, then ac ng governor of ARMM, said he was at the Comelec the right of the people to be secure in their offi ce in Shariff Saydona Mustapha with his wife, Bai Zandria Ampatuan, on the day persons, houses, papers. The eff ects against of the incident. unreasonable searches and seizures of whatever nature and for any purpose shall be Bai Zandria was there fi ling her cer fi cate of candidacy. inviolable,” says Ponce. He also claimed to be not present in the supposed mee ng of Nov. 22, saying as he was out supervising the cleaning and repairs of the municipal offi ce of Shariff Saydona Moreover, those arrested for murder done Mustapha. in furtherance to the supposed rebellion are eligible for bail. Similarly, Anwar, elected mayor of Shariff Aguak town, claimed to be somewhere else - the Shariff Aguak municipal hall having a mee ng with the Municipal Council “When murder, as charged against the members and barangay offi cials on a proposed Local Water U li es Administra on Ampatuans, is complexed with rebellion, the project - when the massacre took place. crime becomes bailable because rebellion is Anwar stated that their mee ng started at around 9 a.m. and ended at noon. bailable,” Barcenas explained. ARRESTED. Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., primary suspect in the mass He said he and municipal engineer Halili Lucas, together with contractors and some A state prosecutor, Graeme Elmido, murder of journalists and unarmed civilians laborers, inspected the site or the proposed project therea er. agreed. “But,” he said, “they (defense) have to that shocked the world, is escorted by a In his affi davit, Akmad said he was at his residence in Mamasapano, Maguindanao prove that the killings were in furtherance of military offi cer and Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan of on Nov. 22 preparing for a scheduled medical mission to be conducted by several rebellion.” the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, his brother, as Andal voluntarily surrendered doctors from Manila. He is the town vice mayor. In rebellion, murder, despite being a to Presidential Adviser Jesus Dureza at the The medical mission was scheduled the next day, Nov. 23, and was held at the heinous off ense that carries an even higher Maguindanao Provincial Capitol in Shariff municipal gymnasium from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. where, he stressed, he was also present. penalty and is non-bailable, is merely Aguak. Ampatuan denied the charge but KNR I he was brought to General Santos City for considered incidental to the act of rebellion inquest. T h e P e a c e a n d C o n f l i c t J o u r n a l i s m N e t w o r k D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 9 13 In his column in the news site MindaNews, Diaz said the 65 individuals Revisiting the Massacre Arithmetic were all identiied by names in the various sources that he cites. Diaz notes that the victims were in eight vehicles: ive comprised the Mangudadatu convoy (the UNTV van and four Toyota Grandia vans); a red CCountingounting ddeathseaths Toyota Vios, a Tamaraw FX, and a Pajero which all happened to be trailing the convoy. aandnd tolltoll onon thethe livingliving In coming up with his own count, Diaz compared the various lists available, and then totaled the number of individuals so named. Diaz’s count is as follows: a) Mangudadatu relatives—12 d) Government employees—5 b) Lawyers—3 e) Drivers of vehicles—6 c) Journalists/media workers—34 f) Civilians—5 In all, there were 65 people listed as victims, yet only 57 bodies were recovered. The igures for some categories may change as the identities of some victims are known. However, this count provides a general overview of the approximate extent of The Philippine news media community is still staggering human lives lost in the massacre. Taking into account that from the Ampatuan massacre that claimed 32 of its members from the cities of Davao, Cotabato, Tacurong, Araneta drove the Pajero, which he owns and was part of the Koronadal, and General Santos. convoy, and that one of the four UNTV personnel drove their van, that would only make four the number of drivers listed as Photo by NONOY ESPINA dead. by Ryan D. Rosauro It took a month before police authorities realize the need to dig for more bodies in the massacre site; announcing the MORE than a month after the massacre in Ampatuan, Maguindanao, possible launch of the eff ort last Dec. 21. both the news media and authorities have not yet categorically declare The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines had so the exact number of people who died in the incident. far documented 32 journalists killed in the massacre, based on The oft-repeated casualty count is 57 which is actually the number the identities of bodies recovered from the site. of bodies recovered from the massacre site. Koronadal City But a lingering challenge to this count is the claim of the family of 1. Cachuela, Hannibal, Punto News, Koronadal City Tacurong City-based journalist Reynaldo Momay that he continues to 2. Razon, Fernando “Rani,” Periodico Ini, Koronadal City be missing up to now. Momay was part of the convoy en route to Shariff 3. Araneta, Henry, Radio DZRH, Koronadal City Aguak town on Nov. 23 for the iling of a certiicate of candidacy for 4. Legarte, Bienvenido, Jr., Prontiera News, governor of Buluan vice-mayor Esmael Mangudadatu. Koronadal City Momay’s denture was recovered from the massacre site, deepening 5. Maravilla, Ernesto “Bart,” Bombo Radyo, the suspicion of colleagues he was among those killed. At one time, his Koronadal City family was among ive families with conlicting claims over only four 6. Merisco, Rey, Periodico Ini, Koronadal City bodies in a funeral parlor in Koronadal city. 7. Parcon, Joel, Prontiera News, Koronadal City There is no other proof that more bodies have not yet been 8. Betia, Arturo, Periodico Ini, Koronadal City recovered than this case. This also begs the question, “How many 9. Caniban, John, Periodico Ini, Koronadal City really died in the massacre?” 10. Decina, Noel, Periodico Ini, Koronadal City Using a collation of media reports and the report of the President General Santos City to Congress (in relation to her declaration of martial law), veteran 1. Arriola, McDelbert “Mac-Mac,” UNTV, journalist Patricio Diaz, who is based in General Santos city, counted General Santos City the total massacre casualties as 65, including Momay. 2. Cablitas, Maritess, News Focus, General Santos City T h e P e a c e a n d C o n f l i c t J o u r n a l i s m N e t w o r k D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 9 15

3. Dalmacio, Lea, Socsargen News, General Santos City Davao City 4. Dela Cruz, Gina, Saksi News, General Santos City 1. Gatchalian, Santos, DXGO, Davao City 5. Dohillo, Eugene, UNTV, General Santos City 2. Lupogan, Lindo, Mindanao Daily Gazette, 6. Montaño, Marife “Neneng,” Saksi News, General Santos City Davao City 7. Morales, Rosell, News Focus, General Santos City 8. Nuñez, Victor, UNTV, General Santos City Cotabato City 9. Reblando, Alejandro “Bong,” Manila Bulletin, General Santos City 1. Salaysay, Napoleon, Mindanao Gazette, Cotabato City 10. Subang, Ian, Socsargen Today, General Santos City Still unaccounted for: 11. Evardo, Jolito, UNTV General Santos City 12. Adolfo, Benjie, Gold Star Daily, General Santos City 1. Reynaldo “Bebot” Momay, Midland Review, Tacurong City 13. Bataluna, Robillo, Gold Star Daily, General Santos City Diaz wrote: “Is it right to name ‘65’ as having been massacred but to 14. Perante, Ronnie, Gold Star Daily correspondent, General Santos City consistently report ‘57’ as the number of victims? Were eight names among the 15. Cadagdagon, Jepon, Saksi News staff photographer, General Santos City ‘65’ wrongly entered? If so, identify them. It is not right to report them as dead Tacurong City if they are alive. If they were truly among the victims, it is not right to exclude them by reporting only ‘57.’ In fact, it is also unjust and uncharitable.” 1. Cabillo, Romeo Jimmy, Midland Review, Tacurong City 2. Duhay, Jhoy, Gold Star Daily, Tacurong City Diaz said it is the obligation of the news media to correct the discrepancies 3. Teodoro, Andres “Andy,” Central Mindanao Inquirer, Tacurong City in the casualty count “if they are true to their pledge to uphold truth, justice and rights…” He suggested that reporters “should see the families of the named and identiied victims from their cities.” “The main and real purpose is not to prove correct or incorrect the ‘65 or the ‘57’ but to come out with a true list – the number notwithstanding – of victims correctly named and identiied in the name of truth, justice and rights,” Diaz stressed. “The 65 or 57 are people, not animals or stones,” Diaz quipped. Pervading anxiety One month after the massacre, the brutality still refuses to escape the consciousness of many people. For Grace Carasco, niece of Tacurong City-based journalist Reynaldo Momay, and for the rest of his family, the incident is made continually fresh as they anxiously await each day any news about where to ind their kin’s body. “We tried to live as if nothing happened. We tried to believe we can still see his body,” said Carasco. Until today, only the denture of Momay was recovered from the site of the massacre in hinterland sitio Masalay of barangay Salman. So far, only the bodies of 31 victims recovered from the site were identiied as journalists and media workers, and this does not include Momay. (The media workers account for 54 percent of total casualties so far counted.) The sheer enormity of the case and its attendant socio-political implications is raising widespread anxiety on the commitment and capacity of government the carry out a full and independent eff ort to bring the perpetrators to the bar of justice. Photo by Rommel Rebollido T h e P e a c e a n d C o n f l i c t J o u r n a l i s m N e t w o r k D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 9 17 The non-government group Center For one, the principal suspects are government to take the right actions. for International Law has noted the members of the Ampatuan family who A mission report noted that “the wiping out of the entire editorial staff has been a principal ally of the Arroyo prosecution of the perpetrators of of Koronadal city-based local weekly administration in the province, both the mass murder will be one of the Periodico Ini which is published in in combating the Moro insurgents and largest legal cases ever mounted in Hiligaynon and circulated in South in delivering game-changing hordes the Philippines history…” Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat provinces. of votes during the 2004 presidential and 2007 midterm elections. “To ensure an open and Five of Periodico Ini’s six staff were transparent investigation and trial, killed in the massacre. Second, there is the over-arching sustained and determined pressure The General Santos city-based Saksi concern of the security of witnesses from international human rights to the crime. The sheer thought of Mindanaoan News also lost three of groups will be vital,” the mission REMAINS. Coroners collect the bodies of the 57 its six staff . But because it lost its main going against the Ampatuans is mind- report further said. people. NONOY ESPINA boggling for ordinary citizens who editorial people, it appears to have have seen them carve, with impunity, Government’s declaration of days. ceased operation until “Issue No. 012” martial law over Maguindanao a notorious image of violence. Apart from creating huge legal covering Nov. 23-29, 2009. province supposedly to hasten build- demands, the massacre “dealt a cruel Of the 32 journalists and media workers The onrush of public outcry over up of the case against massacre blow to democracy and free media in the (including Momay), 22 have children, in all the incident has somehow softened suspects has raised concern it is Philippines,” according to the IFJ mission, numbering some 75. Many of the victims partisan ties and moved political giving legal loophole for its erstwhile noting that it came at the onset of the were sole breadwinners. authorities to action although much allies to escape responsibility. of the legal strategies continue to be 2010 electoral exercise. When murder raps were iled against Many of the arrests claimed suspect until now. Enormous personal losses eight more Ampatuan family members, by government to be suspects in authorities have said it is their Christmas Legal battle of historic scale the massacre happened under this “Our Philippine colleagues have gift to the victims’ families. In a statement last Dec. 23, the regime. But various legal circles suff ered not only a brutal and ruthless National Union of Journalists of the question the validity of these, hence, assault on their profession and livelihood, But as to when justice is inally served, Philippines (NUJP) said that “justice make only inirm their prosecution. but also incomparable personal losses,” the journalists can only wish it will not said Australian journalist Mike Dobbie take the next Christmas.I is still a far cry” for victims of the Even under martial law, the basic who headed the massacre. charter requires a warrant for the mission. Underlining this situation, arrest of a person, or the search on Groups respond members of the International premises. Hence, how government The incident had Solidarity Mission led by the argue its case will be a most sought- redrawn the lives of to massacre aftermath International Federation of Journalists after development in the coming those the victims left by Ryan D. Rosauro behind. (IFJ) has called on the global Various groups of journalists have come forward to community to continually Take the case of assist beleaguered colleagues in Mindanao to respond to pressure UNTV cameraman a host of concerns in the wake of the Nov. 23 massacre in McDelbert Arriola who Masalay, Salman, Ampatuan, Maguindanao that killed at was supposed to get least 30 journalists and media workers. married on Dec. 6 but Last December, the Na onal Union of Journalists of was rolled down the the Philippines (NUJP) has announced it is se ng up a aisle in a cofin on that fund that will bankroll eff orts to seek jus ce to the vic ms. very same day. This developed as newsmen look back into the pains In a month’s time, the and gains in 2009, the year which saw journalists in the wife of print journalist Philippines closed ranks and defi antly stood up for the Ronnie Perante will freedom of the press and democracy. FORENSICS. Police investigators gather evidences at the dig site in Maguindanao deliver a baby as a province. NONOY ESPINA widow. Groups Respond X24 “What I irst saw were the Salman in Ampatuan town. ingernails. I polished it the night As if trying to conirm further, before she left,” Malabanan narrated the teener said she checked on the how she discovered the remains of remains’ footwear and found the her mother Gina, one of the 57 killed, sandal her mother bought for her that Pen vs Sword 31 of whom journalists, Sunday before Gina left for Buluan, Photo story by Rommel G. Rebollido when she went up to sitio Maguindanao. Masalay, barangay

WHAT she saw made her numb and sent her kneeling to the ground. Gergin Malabanan, 15, was among several family members of the Nov 23 massacre in Ampatuan, Maguindanao, who went to the crime scene on Nov. 24 in search of the remains of their loved ones.

18 19 T h e P e a c e a n d C o n f l i c t J o u r n a l i s m N e t w o r k

Malabanan, who was left to care for her four siblings and a grandma, shares almost similar experience as the other victims’ family members, many of whom do not have the wealth and the means to put on a long hard battle for justice. The wife of Macmac Arriola could only sob in desperation while clutching their three weeks old baby. The couple were barely starting out with their family when the tragedy took Macmac’s life, leaving the young wife with almost nothing but an infant and memories of a happy past. “We can only hope for justice,” she said in the vernacular, adding that media will be as vigilant in seeking It was in Buluan where Gina and justice. other journalists were to join a convoy that would take female representatives of Toto Mangudadatu to Sharif Aguak to ile his certiicate of candidacy for Maguindanao governor. Speaking in the vernacular, Gergin said as she was about to pass out, she could only feel the cool wind on her face amid the noise of an equipment nearby digging for more remains who were buried along with their vehicles.

20 1721 T h e P e a c e a n d C o n f l i c t J o u r n a l i s m N e t w o r k

For the teener Malabanan, she said it would take a long time if she has to James, son of the late Alejandro inish her studies and help raise her “Bong” Reblando of Manila Bulletin, four siblings. It might just be a good idea said their family will pursue a for her to join the police academy after campaign that will seek justice for inishing high school, she added. what was done to his father. “They did not only kill my father, they also “Caring for my siblings may just take mocked at democracy,” he quipped. out the pain inlicted by the loss of my mother. Time will heal that wound in Two of Reblando’s daughters my heart and justice may just be around are contemplating on following his then,” she quipped. I footsteps and also become journalists.

22 23 T h e P e a c e a n d C o n f l i c t J o u r n a l i s m N e t w o r k D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 9 25 Groups Respond ... from P17 On Dec. 8, Camarines Norte broadcaster According to Philippine Daily Inquirer reporter Nestor Burgos, who is NUJP chair, the fund between media and the public, and to deepen Efren Español was a acked inside the will primarily support legal ac ons to advance the cause of jus ce for the journalist-vic ms, help public understanding of factors that led to the announcer’s booth by the former police address the needs of their families, and advocate the improvement of the environment of media massacre.” chief of the province, who was armed with a prac ce especially in Mindanao. “The Jus ce Fund seeks to build awareness .45-caliber pistol. The NUJP noted that the Maguindanao massacre “has le the Philippine media community not just on what happened in Ampatuan, Uniden fi ed persons also fi red a gun in staggering, not just from the toll but also the task of helping rebuild the lives of those le behind, Maguindanao on Nov. 23, 2009, but on the front of the house of Bacolod city journalist as well as of our colleagues who lost friends and co-workers, and have had to cover and live system that breeds corrup on, warlordism and Edgar Cadagat, former NUJP chair and current through the story as well.” poli cal patronage which paved the way to the carnage,” Burgos explained. president of the Negros Press Club. On Dec. “Another vital task is working to hold Among others, a monthly commemora on 24, radio commentator Ismael Pasigma of accountable all those who should be held Labason, Zamboanga del Norte was gunned accountable, not just the persons who carried out down 6:30am while on his way to the carnage, but those responsible for crea ng work. the circumstances that made it possible,” the Driven by the need to group further said. heighten coverage risk awareness The NUJP admits that “to achieve all these and consciousness among news will require substan al resources, thus, the organiza ons and journalists, the need to reach out to colleagues, friends and Interna onal News Safety Ins tute the public for help.” (INSI) has scheduled news safety Burgos said that through the Jus ce trainings for Mindanao media Fund, individuals and groups who wish to prac oners at the start of 2010. help can send their dona ons. Trauma and stress debriefi ng The ac vi es that the Fund will support sessions were also scheduled will be posted on the NUJP website, www. to be held December towards nujp.org, and will be regularly audited by an January 2010 for families of external auditor, the results of which will the slain journalists and media Members of the International Federation of Journalists and the workers. also be published and reported to the donors, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines pay respects he added. to the 12 slain journalists in General Santos City. The NUJP has considered RICHEL UMEL 2009 as “a year of unprecedented But Burgos stressed LOSING HOPE. With their emotions that “the Jus ce Fund is more than just raising painted on their faces and shirts, families of money.” of the massacre will be done to con nually tribula on” for the Philippine press because of fallen journalists express their indignation the massacre. “It seeks to build not only on the fate of their slain loved ones, solidarity between the highlight the issues related to the incident target benefi ciaries of but, also on the manner justice is sought in the program and the which is the worst case of poli cal violence in “The carnage in Ampatuan capped years media, between media the country. ROMMEL REBOLLIDO and the public,” he the country’s history. of con nued impunity for killers of Filipino explained. The Maguindanao massacre is the worst journalists,” an NUJP year-ender reads. As conceived, the Fund will fi nancially support the undertaking of a trauma and counseling ever a ack on the media throughout the Before the massacre, 104 Filipino program for the families of killed journalists and members of their local media community. world, placing the country on top as the most journalists had been slain since 1986, 67 of dangerous place to prac ce journalism. them under the administra on of President In li ga on, the Fund seeks to support the legal ac ons against the suspects by assis ng the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, based on the NUJP’s private and public prosecutors, and providing sanctuary for witnesses and even li gants who may Yet, the NUJP points out that “a acks on count. come under threat from the accused. the press are not likely to end despite the outrage s rred by the Ampatuan massacre and Of these, only around fi ve cases have The Fund will also support a series of training on risk awareness and safety, especially in many Filipino journalists con nue to embark resulted in the convic on of the killers but no covering and repor ng events from culturally and poli cally sensi ve places. on dangerous coverage with prac cally no masterminds in any of the murder s have Apart from the Nov. 23 massacre, NUJP also seeks to document other incidents of tools to help them cope with the challenges as been arrested so far.I (With reports from harassment and a acks on the press in Mindanao, and launch a campaign “to build solidarity well as stress in doing the job.” Richel Umel) T h e P e a c e a n d C o n f l i c t J o u r n a l i s m N e t w o r k D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 9 27

The two clan elders, who are related to each other by afinity, have always been triumphant in elections, leading their children to follow in their political footsteps. Unson said the Mangudadatus are 17th generation descendants of Shariff Mohammad Kabunsuan, the irst foreign Islamic missionary to have set foot in mainland Mindanao, through the Bucana District or the delta of Rio Grande de Mindanao, a part of Cotabato City. In one article he wrote, Unson said the Kabunsuan was of Arab-Malay present members of the two clans have a ancestry from Johore, now an island common prominent relative in the person of state in Malaysia. Maguindanao First District Representative CClanslans inin ClashClash The Ampatuans, on the other Didagen Dilangalen, whose matriarch hand, are descendants of another belongs to the Piang family in Datu Piang, When the time came that their respective parallel pursuits for Islamic missionary Shariff Saidona Maguindanao. power met in a political intersection, the once warm relations Mustapha, who reportedly came Both the Mangudadatus and the between the Ampatuan and Mangudadatu clans began to sour. This from a community in the old Arabian Ampatuans are related to the Piangs by blood, is thought to be the root of the Nov. 23 carnage that claimed at least desert, now known as South Yemen. he said. 57 lives in the country’s worst case of political violence. Shariff Ampatuan and Rajah Muda Datu FOR THE POSE. A reproduced photo of the Ali, a great grand uncle of now Sultan Kudarat "One loyal friend is worth Mangudadatus and the Ampatuans was found Rep. Pax Mangudadatu and his cousin, Datu ten thousand relatives." inside a drawer in the offi ce of Andal Sr. at the capitol. FROILAN GALLARDO Starting Pua, father of Vice Mayor Mangudadatu, were -- Euripides (408 B.C.) even said to have formed a strong socio- them young? economic and political alliance in the 18th By Ben Jason O. Tesiorna VIOLENT confrontations over On account of Cotabato City- century. control of communities dates back to based journalist John Unson, the The culture of gun blamed for the The alliance was said to be among history in a place which was carved Ampatuans and the Mangudadatus many instances of deaths and violence strategies aimed at consolidating their forces from the northwest portion of then come from prominent clans in the in Mindanao is evident in how the who were then ighting the Spaniards and, empire Cotabato province and to Raya communities of the province. young members of the two infl uen al subsequently, the Americans in the upper assume the name Maguindanao These two families particularly Ampatuan and Mangudadatu clans delta of Maguindanao. (swampy). rose to prominence in 1986, present themselves in cyberspace. Several Moro history books describe the Powerful families from what was when then Pres. Corazon Aquino’s A check with the Friendster alliance as the “most gallant and celebrated then known as ilod (downstream) revolutionary government appointed accounts of some scions of the two resistance against the Spaniards,” where and Raya (upper delta) communities personalities to serve in local elective clans show pictures of young boys forces of both sides were said to have killed of Maguindanao, fought battles in posts. more than 300 Spaniards in one attack after their bid to widen and protect their along with other family members and Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr. and another. sphere of inluence. friends proudly carrying very high- Datu Pua Mangudadatu -- known powered fi rearms. Members and followers of the The Ilod and Raya generally patriarchs of the two clans, were Mangudadatu and Ampatuan clans again saw The photos posted on Friendster delineate the irst and second appointed mayors of their respective action during the Second World War, when show the young men carrying assorted congressional districts of the towns – Maganoy (now Sharif Aguak) they resisted the Japanese occupation using province. and Buluan, both in Maguindanao. Starting them young X29 only traditional weapons. T h e P e a c e a n d C o n f l i c t J o u r n a l i s m N e t w o r k D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 9 29

Two equally big Maguindanao to be culled from portions of the A subsequent police operation had Where that challenge will take families related to the Mangudadatus, towns that they control in the south some of the Mangudadatu followers the two families may just be another the Mangelens and Pendatuns, eastern tip of the province. Allegedly, disarmed, triggering further falling anecdote in Philippine politics. What and members of the Piang family, the proposed town did not meet the out of the two families with one is certain so far, it led to the gruesome among them Datu Gumbay Piang, an population required by law. challenging the other’s mandate to killing of 57 people, 32 of whom were ancestor of Rep. Dilangalen, and the I Adam is reportedly the name of rule Maguindanao. journalists. Ampatuans joined forces and fought the deceased father of Supt. Piang the Japanese invaders. Adam, who had retired as police Among the most decorated World provincial director of Maguindanao War II veteran from among the allied early this year. clans was the late Gen. Salipada K. Starting them young... from P27 Pendatun, who rose to become a senator. fi rearms, ranging from pistols to automa c rifl es. Pendatun was one of the founders Friends of either of the Ampatuan or Mangudadatu scions admi ed seeing of the renowned Bolo Battalion, them carry guns with them whenever they go to bars and discos in Davao City. that was armed only with spears, In 2002, a young Ampatuan was accused of shoo ng and killing Carlo and traditional Kris and Badung, Asis do during an alterca on in defeating more than a thousand in The Venue, a bar in Davao Japanese soldiers. city. Mohammad Banarin It was said that before Datu Pua Vice Mayor Mangudadatu of was however absolved of died, he had left his politician Buluan town and his siblings became responsibility for the crime children under the care and “adopted children” of Datu Andal, Sr. a er the vic m’s parents guidance of the elder Ampatuan, after their father, Datu Pua, died of a desisted from further the two old men having been lingering illness some ive years ago. pursuing a legal tussle with very close friends. It was said that before Datu the poli cally powerful family. “ Pua died, he had left his politician The persistence of a culture of gun largely underpins the seeming social children under the care and guidance tolerance on the growth of private armies. According to the Armed Forces of the of the elder Ampatuan, the two old Philippines, there are about 73 private armies, including that of the Ampatuans men having been very close friends. and the Mangudadatus, throughout the country. In 2001, the Mangudadatus joined Forty-two of these so-called par san armed groups (PAGs) are said to be ” the band of local leaders supporting Inside the governor’s offi ce. found in Maguindanao with nine of these under the control of the Ampatuans, the candidacy of Ampatuan Sr. for accoun ng for some 2,410 armed men. governor of Maguindanao, against The AFP further revealed that the Mangudadatus maintain one PAG with then incumbent Governor Datu The police oficial, who is also about 250 armed followers. Zacaria Candao. related to the Mangudadatus being a Most of the PAGs are said to have a legal face either as Ci zen Armed Forces A rift between the two families Piang, is said to be loyal to the elder Geographical Units (CAFGUs), Civilian Volunteers Organiza on (CVOs), or Special started with rumors that Esmael Ampatuan and also known as “tutor” Civilian Armed Auxiliary (SCAAs). was running for governor in the May to Ampatuan Jr. Though these PAGs are controlled by the poli cians, the military report said 2010 elections, which was seen as As Adam and his relatives began in response to a move by Ampatuan establishing residency in Pandag government is responsible for providing them allowance and supplying arms and creating a town along the bailiwick of town in the political territory of ammuni ons on account of their par cipa on in the counter-insurgency eff ort in the Mangudadatus. the Mangudadatus, he reported to the locali es. Ties were severed when the Ampatuan an attack by armed men in But Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales said that there are already about Mangudadatus purportedly blocked late July, this year, where in a close kin 132 PAGs all over the country with control of more than one million high- the creation of the Adam municipality of the retired police oficer was killed. powered fi rearms most of which are said to be illegal. I D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 9 31

examples of the will of those in power virtually serving as the Editorial law. Uncovering the coverage landscape Amid the generally poor economic return of community journalism, media pay-off s provide the necessary business APART from doing their usual business of covering events and lifeline for many news organizations. The enterprising ones reporting about these, journalists in the Philippines oftentimes igure even leverage a demand for greater scrutiny of oficial actions, as subjects of the news. This is mirrored in the numerous cases of not necessarily for expanding public knowledge of these, but to harassments and the string of killings of news media practitioners exact more juicy concessions from the powers-that-be. which are largely unresolved up to this day. In this context, business is generated by creatively playing According to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines around the tension between public scrutiny and oficial secrecy. (NUJP), some 104 journalists and media workers, mostly in the Tension builds up when there are challengers to the current provinces, have been killed from February 1986 up to November 2009, holders of power like in a political contest when aspirants just before the Nov. 23 Ampatuan massacre that added 32 more deaths to elective posts compete for public appeal. The greater the to the list. The igures relect an average of four or ive deaths in a year. tension, the more business can be squeezed from the situation This is the worst form of mockery of Philippine democracy. that this even encourage the proliferation of ly-by-night media outits. Although having the distinction of being Asia’s freest, the Philippine press is literally under the gun. Blame this on a prevailing culture of impunity throughout the country, underpinned by As with other major violent incidents in government’s failure in so many respects to implement the law history, the massacre can be a watershed without favor on whoever has power and inluence. for very important lessons in media The death of hundreds of political dissenters since 2001, with practice, especially in localities marred almost no one held responsible, has fueled an atmosphere of impunity by varying conϔlicts and enmeshed in an to those wielding power. And the longer they felt unperturbed by this intense culture of impunity. scandalous state of aff airs, the deeper the culture of impunity develops and seemingly left unquestioned. Set against such inhospitable social environment, community The persistence of these ethically questionable deals journalists carry out their work in the furtherance of the peoples’ show how soft coercion methods, by pandering to the right to know. Provincial media practitioners take on their daily grind economic survival demands of journalists, reduced to nominal choosing whether to abide by the limits of public scrutiny acceptable signiicance the professional standards of journalism practice. to the powers-that-be, or tread an independent perspective and All these are helping deepen the sense of impunity of those potentially earn their backlash. The backlash could amount from holding power. verbal abuse to death, depending on the ‘harm’ inlicted by the But despite this repressive and corruptive atmosphere, journalist and the number of times the unwritten code has been community journalists are largely committed to standing up ‘violated.’ for freedom and morality hence, pushing the boundary of the The powers-that-be also use inancial rewards both to entice social territory for independent news media. By doing so, their community journalists to parrot their lines and to cement cozy daily work grind represents the frontline in the struggle for relations among those who already are. This is soft coercion, their civil liberties and for cultivating peoples’ faith in democratic most preferred form, the strength of which is founded on real ideals. T h e P e a c e a n d C o n f l i c t J o u r n a l i s m N e t w o r k D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 9 33 We think that this context is vital for us to understand the shape Having Esmael successfully register his candidacy for up of the social circumstance leading to the death of 32 journalists Maguindanao governor was surely a matter of great importance for in the Nov. 23 carnage. the electoral process in particular, and for democratic institutions In fact, the above-described scheme of things is very true in most in general, which includes the news media. But should journalists areas of the country, including Maguindanao. Except that a major agonize over this? power wielder in that province, the Ampatuans, enjoys a diff erent Still staggering from the toll and grappling to make sense of level of impunity owing to how their powerbase was built--helping the incident, the Philippine media faced yet another challenging maneuver the electoral victory of the country’s most unpopular situation as an aftermath of the massacre—martial law in chief executive. In addition, the Ampatuans also serve as major Maguindanao. fulcrum for leveraging local support in combating the widespread There was immediate resonance of Sept. 21, 1972 when the inluence and armed presence of Moro rebels in Maguindanao’s entire country was placed under martial law by President Ferdinand communities. Marcos which marked the beginning of his strongman rule until As with other major violent incidents in history, the massacre deposed on February 1986. Images of the fall of democratic can be a watershed for very important lessons in media practice, institutions, including the press, reverberated back into current especially in localities marred by varying conlicts and enmeshed in social memory. an intense culture of impunity. While almost the entire media community raised a howl on this To achieve this, the media community must seek answers, at the action by President Arroyo, its reportage of the martial law regime in appropriate time, to uneasy questions that arise from the incident. Maguindanao ironically helped justify the controversial declaration. We knew that the more than 30 journalists and media workers The media community, as the primary victim, had all wanted to were part of the Shariff Aguak-bound Mangudadatu convoy to see the Ampatuans succumb to the strength of the law and made to cover a historic iling of certiicate of candidacy of Buluan town answer for allegations for perpetrating the massacre. We therefore vice-mayor Esmael Mangudadatu for Maguindanao governor. His feasted on what we thought were images of the beginning of the end wife Genalyn and a host of women relatives were doing that for of the Ampatuans. him supposedly to avoid violent reprisal from the Ampatuan clan Field reports of the raids that followed the martial law who dreaded the thought of anyone challenging their hold on declaration came with little reference to the validity of the operation. provincial government power and so were bent to prevent that from Martial law was supposedly declared to help build the case against happening. perpetrators of the massacre. But beyond simply doing coverage, the group of journalists was Reports of the seized guns, ammunition and munitions, aside tasked to accompany the convoy to serve as deterrent to any attack from a relative few, made little inquiry on how the items fell under planned against the Mangudadatus, primarily on Esmael. This ownership of the Ampatuans. was after both the military and police had refused to provide the Mangudadatus with security escorts. Even until today, there is still a hangover of the grisly incident among journalists throughout the country. This is best shown in the Were the journalists aware of the risks attendant to such an incident whereby a photojournalist banged a camera into the head of undertaking? What were the considerations of the journalists in Andal Ampatuan Jr., primary massacre suspect. deciding to take part in, or even lead, the convoy? Was news safety among these? Admittedly, the hangover cannot be easily foregone. But because the media’s role is to give the public all the relevant and Their death in the massacre clearly shows the situation was signiicant information it needs to make an informed choice, position perilous. What could have been the appropriate response to the or discourse in matters that aff ect their daily lives, then all the request to accompany a political convoy? How could have coverage lessons that need to be learned from the Nov. 23 massacre must be been made safe? uncovered.I T h e P e a c e a n d C o n f l i c t J o u r n a l i s m N e t w o r k D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 9 35 Many believe journalists are natural adrenaline junkies, An Open Letter to Non-journalists adventurous, restless folks who crave for experiences beyond the limit. by Antonia Koop And to a certain extend those people are right. But one can satisfy those needs by other less dangerous means, such as bungee jumping or sky diving. So there must be more to the journalism profession than THIRTY-TWO Journalists died in an ambush on Nov. 23,2009 adventurism. in Maguindanao, Central Mindanao, Philippines, along with 27 The good ones among us deeply believe that journalism is a damn other people who joined the family of a local politician for the filing important profession. of candidacy for the upcoming 2010 elections. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) qualified the incident as the worst In this interconnected interdependent world we live in, information attack on journalists recorded so far in journalism history. The event is power and those who control information control the world. has come to be known as the Ampatuan or Maguindanao Massacre. In this world journalism is the only institution that has the single The brutal and brazen attack once more raises the most crucial task to provide the public with independent, reliable information. Our questions we as journalists have to face: task as journalists is to allow everybody access to vital information, because only if each member of society truly knows what is happening Is there any story worth dying for? out there, people have a chance to make good choices for their own lives. And for what do we journalists risk our lives? We believe that journalism as an institution is essential to keep every Being a good journalist has never been easy. In many countries the member of society accountable for their actions and is thereby crucial job is poorly paid, journalists are harassed or threatened. And in too defense for the people in our modern interest driven societies against many places reporters get killed, such as in the Philippines. abuse, lies and manipulation. Journalists often work in areas known to be dangerous. We ask We have painfully experienced what happens if this important questions that put us into trouble, that leave us hated and disliked by instrument of accountability fails; in Rwanda where the media became those who attempt to hide their actions and intentions from public. agitator for the genocide, in fascist Germany, where people were all too willing to believe a propaganda Many people look at us as if we were leeches who crave for the blood that paved the way for killing Millions and of others to feed their newspapers’ sales. We are seen as tool, easy to abuse devastated not only Europe but affected large for polishing an image, for gaining fame, for outing an opponent by parts of the world. In war zones all over the spreading scandals. world journalists got targeted and killed to Even our own business driven companies often treat us journalists as shut out the world’s attention. Until today cheap producers of reality entertainment for bored and disinterested we have seen an increasingly sophisticated masses waiting to be fed with delusion and potato chips on their living propaganda machinery driving some of the room sofa. And then once in a while we become essential as instrument to be used to gain political power in the campaign for an upcoming election. What a dirty business. What a poor job. So, why do we risk so much, risk our lives our families, our personal well being to do that?

Photo by RICHEL UMEL T h e P e a c e a n d C o n f l i c t J o u r n a l i s m N e t w o r k

notes on the contributors most suppressive or problematic situations in the world. Karlon N. Rama has been covering the justice beat for over a decade now as reporter for Sun.Star in Cebu City. He is a member of Without the courageous efforts of independent journalism we have the board of trustees of PECOJON International. no chance to distinguish between what is true from what is fake; what to believe and what to question. Rommel G. Rebollido is a Mindanao-based writer and This is why being a journalist is so challenging. Why we always have photojournalist. He is an alumnus of the Diploma in Photojournalism to do our best despite danger, difficulties and dislikes. Despite being course of the Asian Center for Journalism in the Ateneo de Manila University. harassed and threatened and having missed another birthday of our kids because of a road accident, a bombing, a political clash, a burning Ben Jason O. Tesiorna is reporter for Sun.Star in Davao City. chemical factory. Despite becoming ourselves victims of a system that doesn’t like to have reporters around to tell the truth. Ryan D. Rosauro is a journalist based in Mindanao. If we journalists fail, you live your lives blindfolded. Antonia Koop is PECOJON International Coordinator. She is We are not journalists for our own fun, for travel and adventure. currently based in Germany. We do this job for you people out there. We acknowledge news site Dateline Philippines (www.dateline. For the politicians who try to truly lead their cities, regions and ph) for contributing information. The following members of countries. For business that aims to be successful without leaving burned the Network also contributed in the putting up of this edition: earth behind. For public administration that truly aims to serve the peoples’ needs. And for each and every member of a society that tries to Nonoy Espina exist in abundance, peace and security. Froilan Gallardo By keeping all stakeholders of society accountable, journalists protect Richel Umel your rights. Jeffrey Tupas And now we need you to protect us. Cong Corrales Do you choose to be a bored and disinterested mass that doesn’t Hirohito Cadion care? Or do you choose to claim your right to be concerned about what is happening around you, willing to ask who defines the rules, willing Philip James Tremedal to claim your right to speak out? The killing of a journalist is not an internal problem of the media. It is concern for each and every member of the public, of a society editorial staff that chooses to have a say. Ryan Rosauro, Rommel Rebollido, So now is the time to claim back your right to know and your right Karlon Rama and Charlie Saceda to be heard. It is time to protect your journalists. PECOJON-The Peace and Confl ict Journalism Network Or you will lose us. contact: Ledrolen Manriquez One after the other. National and International Secretariat 2/L Ab-der-Halden Haus To danger or temptation wrapped in bribes, political power or the 1550 East Capitol Road, Capitol Site promise of an easier way of life and earning. 6000 Cebu City, Philippines Now it is time also for you to stand up and say: Telefax: +63 32 505 52 62 www.pecojon.org STOP KILLING JOURNALISTS!