Communications and Media

The year 2009 could have ended favorably for the Filipinos when on November 14, popular boxer Manny Pacquiao knocked down Miguel Cotto and reigned the headlines around the world. Fifteen days later while the world celebrated with the Filipinos for Pacquiaos victory, media men readied their camcorders again for another big scoop. It was indeed big, but horrifying. That fateful day in November 29 changed not only the fate of Philippine mass media but more significantly, the international mass media forever.

The Maguindanao massacre killed 57 people including 30 journalists were confirmed dead. This event replaced Iraq and made the Philippines as the deadliest country for journalists. It also highlighted the world as a more dangerous place for journalists. What possible conditions prompted the massacre to happen How did the government respond on the issue How did the media community react
November 29, 2009 was a doomsday for media people in the Philippines and around the world. Journalists were killed in a gruesome attack tagged as the Maguindanao massacre in a small town of Ampatuan, located in the province of Maguindanao, one of the poorest in the Philippines. The convoy of Ampatuan Vice Governor Ismael Mangudadatus wife, including relatives and media personnel, was cut and brutally fired at by armed men on its way to an election office to file Mangudadatus certificate of candidacy. Women members of the convoy were raped before they were killed and some were buried alive because of the murderers fear that the authorities would soon discover the crime. The provinces governor Andal Ampatuan Jr. of the ruling Ampatuan clan was held as the primary suspect for the mass killing. There was much speculation that Ampatuan Jr. tried to keep his rival Mangudadatu off his way to the gubernatorial race in the coming May 2010 elections.

Swiftly the news broke out in almost all networks here and abroad, even in websites. The perpetrators tried to stage a news blackout. Witnesses said the target was just the vice governors wife. However, there were allegations that it was the media whom they wanted to silence. The volatile situation in Southern Philippines prompted the declaration of a state of emergency in the area.

As a citizen, I know that in a democratic country, freedom of speech is a constitutional right. It is the primary defense of the people as protection for unlawful acts inflicted against them. On a broader note, mass media serves as an avenue to the practice of this right. Therefore, in a free society, the mass media is always given auspicious attention for reforms to strengthen and empower its voice of public service. Such is not a case in many countries like the Philippines. Being a democratic country, supposedly it has a free media but the government has displayed a record of tongue-tying it. Media personnel are silenced when they speak something unfavorable to those in power  by imprisonment, or worse, by death.

According to the Philippines former Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Leila De Lima, it was the face of corruption and impunity that has prospered in the Philippine government for years. Politicians bargained with the central government for votes in exchange for protection thus strengthening their private armies using state reserves.

The international media expressed outrage over the killings especially because the media workers were murdered in the line of duty. The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (2009) condemned the brutal act and called on the Philippine government to clear its environment of impunity which has killed hundreds of lives including the journalists. According to the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, the attack in Maguindanao represents the shameless record of violence in the Philippines and calls for the strongest demand for the immediate apprehension, trial and punishment of those responsible. The Catholic Media Network Radio Veritas said the killings were Godless acts and call on our colleagues to be brave and still do our job of fearless reporting. The director of US global press watchdog Reporters Without Borders Clothilde Le Coz sympathized with the victims families and said never in the history of journalism have the news media suffered such a heavy loss of life in one day (2010). The Southeast Asia Press Alliance based in Thailand said the killing is the highest among the heinous episode of barbarism.

The brutal killing in the Philippines reinforced the sacrifices and dangers that media people face in the name of truth. The Maguindanao massacre cautioned the media that a corrupt government such as the Philippines can threaten media workers jobs and their lives. The law in this land is toothless, especially to the high-ranks. It may seem very timely that the election is coming near, the trials and the issue regarding this crime may have been covered or hidden. Veteran broadcast journalist Mr. Daniel Razon of Philippine TV network UNTV commented on the plight of slain UNTV workers, We believe that everything that happens in this world has a purpose, even if we dont fully understand it This is not the end rather this is the start of our fight for justice and to continue the cry of freedom (2009).  Four of UNTV media personnel were among those buried alive in the massacre.

Mass media is the peoples voice so the government may know what they want and what they need, and in return the government by its constitutional mandate will provide for them. In a corrupt government,  the media and the people must work side by side and be vigilant. The massacre may not be the last brutal act. But I believe that the international media has become more vigilant for their rights and has become more united in their advocacy.