Journalist. Freedom. Massacre. During the revolution between the Filipinos and the Spaniards, what sparked the courage of the Filipino to fight for their freedom were the writings of our national hero Jose Rizal. Thus they say, the pen is mightier than any sword.
This belief continued until the time of former President Ferdinand Marcos, when he first declared Martial Law on September 21, 1972. The late President Marcos took over and controlled all the privately owned newspapers, magazines, television and radio. Many journalists were thrown into prison and incarcerated in military camps. Even though the former president banned all the media outfits in the country, there were still brave journalists who continued to write, in honour for the freedom of the country and the right of the people to know. Because of the bold decision and the courage these journalists showed, many Filipinos from different parts of the country, young and old, Catholics and Muslims, joined force to create a peaceful revolution known as the Edsa Revolution. The news written and telecast all over the country made by the brave journalists plus the cooperation of the Filipinos toppled the Marcos Government and gave way for the new administration. The media was given privilege by the new administration by giving them freedom and the right to inform the Filipino citizen of what is happening in the country. The media, since then, became a powerful tool for the Filipinos right to be informed.
However, the right of the Filipinos to be informed gradually decreases as the culture of impunity rises. The culture of impunity, in the Philippines, is defined as the continuous assassination of journalists where the government and other institutions ignored and even encourage the violence and harassment done to journalists resulting for the perpetrators to go unpunished. Since the time of the late President Marcos until the era of the former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, there were countless of journalists slain and no justice was given.
Last November 23, 2009, the whole world was shocked as news broke out that 58 civilians were killed in Maguindanao. This shocking incident was considered to be the worst election-related killings that happen in our country. Out of the 58 victims, 34 journalists were murdered, and women victims were violated before they were killed. As of now, the remains of the body of the 58th victim were nowhere to be found.
The journalists at that time were covering what was supposed to be the biggest news of that year. For the first time in the history of Maguindanao, someone will run against the Ampatuans in a race for the governatorial post. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, now the current governor of Maguindanao, sent his wife along with his lawyers and other supporters to file a candidacy for the governatorial post. Media persons and journalists accompanied the said team to cover the filing of candidacy of Mangudadatu. The journalists who were supposed to bring the news was instead became the news. Because of this tragic incident, media persons and journalists once again fight for their security to bring the news and inform the people of what is true. Freedom of the press was once again became an issue. Many persons from the media institution grieve for the loss of fellow journalists. Several protests were made asking for justice for the victims.
To date, one year has passed, and still there were no clear reports of justice for the victims. Although the primary suspects, the most powerful clan and the warlords of Maguindanao, the Ampatuans, are already in the custody of the Philippine National Police, and there are several witnesses to the crime who already appeared before the court, the trial seems to last longer and the justice seems to be far from reach.
I remembered the time when we went for General Santos for our field activity as a journalism student. It was February 23, 2010, our last day at General Santos. Instead of going straight to the airport and be ready to fly back to Manila, we went to Forest Lake Cemetery where the 12 journalists who were killed in the tragic Maguindanao Massacre were laid to rest. Before going to the cemetery, we dropped by the market to buy some flowers. Some of us really took a long time to think what kind of flowers to offer on the graves of the 12 journalists. Some bought fresh flowers; some even manage to pick their preferred flowers and asked the person in-charge to arrange our own personal choice of a bouquet and some really took time and effort to look for presentable flowers.
Upon our arrival at Forest Lake Cemetery, when I saw the 12 tombstone of the journalists, I felt chill run down my spine. I stood there and slowly walked to each tomb bearing the journalists name that died in the massacre. As I gaze at each name, I felt a tingling ache in my heart. I was so sad and I wanted to mourn for what happened to the 12 brave journalists, but more than that I want justice. We offered flowers and prayers on the grave of the 12 journalists. Soon, the family of the victims came arriving, and I saw the children left by the 12 victims. They were so young to understand what happened. What moved me the most was when I saw this very young little girl, of age 3, waving and saying ‘goodbye’ and ‘I love you’ to her mother, as asked by her relatives. In my mind, I was asking myself if that little girl knew what she was doing. It was really a heart-breaking scene.
The tragic incident is not only an issue of security, press freedom and the right to information but it is also an issue on the family of the victims. Most of the journalists who died were the breadwinners of the family. Now that they are gone, what will be the future of their family? What will become of them? We must remember that the most affected from this incident are the family of the victims. The government spoke that it will take years before the justice can be given to the families, however, we must take note that most of the families came from the province of Mindanao. Whenever there is a hearing in Manila, these families flew all the way from Mindanao to Manila just to witness and hear about the case. Despite the money, time and effort the families put in for the case, the faith of these families is the greatest, faith that someday they get the justice for their loved ones.
This November 23, 2010, on the first year anniversary of the Maguindanao Massacre, many have come to pay tribute to the journalists who were killed and to remember their courage in doing their job and securing the freedom of the Filipino people to know their right to be informed. In celebration of the first year anniversary of the most gruesome Massacre in the history of election-related killings in the Philippines, media persons from different parts of the country as well as the family of the victims went to the massacre site to offer prayers and flowers In commemoration of the 58 victims of Maguindanao Massacre, the families and media persons released 58 white balloons and planted 58 trees.
In addition, the school where I graduated, St. Scholastica’s College Manila, offered a mass in memory of the victims in the Maguindanao Massacre. My fellow Mass Communication friends, schoolmates and classmates, and our professors released 58 balloons after the mass in remembrance of the victims. At 12 noon, several churches throughout the country including Manila Cathedral rang their bells in remembrance of the gruesome Maguindanao Massacre. Even President Noynoy Aquino promised to do everything that he can to give justice to the victims and their families. A promise that the persons from the media industry and the family will remember, and the media itself will serve as a watchdog.
The Maguindanao Massacre is something that we should not easily forget. We must always remember the victims who were killed in Maguindanao. We should continue to seek for justice and never stop until we get it or else this incident will just repeat itself and many more families will become a victim. Punishment should be given to the perpetrators, to the master mind and to the criminals. It does not matter if they are in the position or the wealthiest and powerful man, what matter most is that they should held reliable to what happened. We should believe and have faith that someday justice will come. Most of all, we should NEVER FORGET! LET US END THE CULTURE OF IMPUNITY!
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