Under the title "State of the Bakwits (S.O.B.)" a large group of journalists from a variety of Philippine media organizations, many of them PECOJON members,  joinedly covered the current situation in conflict affected central Mindanao, Philippines. After the coverage conducted from June 29 to July 1,2009  the organizers now released the following alarming statement:

A CALL TO DEFEND THE PEOPLES’ RIGHT TO KNOW

The State of the Bakwits (S.O.B.), a joint coverage of Mindanao and Manila journalists held on June 29 to July 1, 2009 was intended to focus public attention on a humanitarian tragedy that we believe has not been given the attention it deserves.

Coming from different media organizations in Mindanao and Manila, we issue this collective statement in view of the disturbing checkpoint incident on June 30 and certain pronouncements of the 6th Infantry Division’s spokesperson about the organizers and participating journalists.

The coverage was prompted by persistent and alarming reports of alleged human rights violations like food blockades, illegal arrests, disappearances and summary executions; and that non-government and humanitarian organizations, even media, were also reportedly being prohibited from going to evacuation centers presumably to protect them from hostilities between government troops and rebel forces.