Filipino media mourns for Maguindanao journalists
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009The Sydney-based Filipino Press Group has issued the following statements on the killings two days ago of 34 journalists and others in Maguindanao.
The journalists were part of the convoy to cover the filing with the Commission on Elections of the gubernatorial candidacy of Buluan vice mayor Ishmael Mangadadatu.
The party was led by vice mayor Eden Mangudadatu of Mangudadatu town in Maguindanao, also killed together with her sister-in-law Genalyn, the gubernatorial candidate’s wife.
Reports about a massacre in Maguinadanao, in southern Philippines, tears at the heart of every Filipino and decent people across the globe. The victims, many of them journalists, lost their lives in a hail of gunfire as they went about their job. And because we, members of The Filipino Press Group of Sydney (Filpressyd), are journalists or journalists in intent, it tears at our hearts doubly so.
The 34 journalists, some of whom were reportedly cut down by bullets and some held captive, had been there to cover a simple event: that of filing a politician’s certificate of candidacy for governor. It should have been routine, with reporters later filing their stories for all of us to read, watch and listen to. But the brave, underpaid storytellers had marched into the jaws of hell.
On behalf of the Filpressyd, members of whom fully understand the risks journalists face each day, I call on Heaven to welcome those Filipino journos who lost their lives in Maguindanao and to watch over those who continue to suffer at the hands of their captors.
Jaime K Pimentel
Moderator
The Filipino Press Group of Sydney
In Manila, President President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday put parts of the troubled southern Philippines under emergency rule following the massacre.
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Posted by TFA Staff
on Nov 25 2009. Filed under Philippines, Politics, Side Stories.
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The Filipino Australian and the rest of emanila websites join the Filipino Press Group of Sydney in mourning for the journalists who were massacred whilst in line with duty.
We also join other media groups in condemning this barbaric act ~ of trampling the rights of human beings and make them offerings in the political altar.
We sincerely hope that the fullest extent of the law will be applied – swiftly and fairly – regardless of political affiliations and kinship of those who are involved in the crime..
I am deeply saddened and appalled with this recent massacre of our fellow Filipino journalists whose dedication and advocacy is just to express and be the voice of democracy most especially with the political situation in Mindanao, southern Philippines, Maguindanao in particular. As a contributing writer for a local community newspaper in Australia, I felt so blessed with all the freedom that we benefit from this country. The press, as they say is the vanguard of democracy and justice. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones of the member of the press as well as the innocent civilians who who lost their lives in this barbaric act of violence. I hope the Arroyo administration will not condone this act of violence among our people. Let justice be given to the victims of this horrendous massacre.
[...] Filipino Press Group of Sydney’s statements [...]