International Outrage Challenges the Culture of Impunity
Journalists in the Philippines joined by their colleagues from all over the world are shocked and outraged about this unprecedented act of violence against journalists. Media organizations such as Reporters Without Borders, the International News Safety Institute, the International Federation of Journalists together with the Philippine Media are condemning the killings and have called for immediate and rigid action of the Philippine Government to pursue those responsible. And the Philippine Government has taken first actions. Andal Ampatuan Jr., son of the incumbent Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and younger brother of Zaldy Ampatuan, Governor of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), has been charged with multiple murder and arrested. Now investigation has expanded to include also other members of the powerful Ampatuan family, that controls central political positions in Mindanao.
However, many journalists worry that justice might once more be sacrificed for political interest, power and old alliances. During the past years the sad record of killings of media practitioners placed the Philippines as the second or third most dangerous country for journalists after Iraq and Columbia. And more saddening than the number of killings had been the pursue of those responsible. The Philippines are nurturing a culture of impunity, a fact finding mission conducted by the International Federation of Journalists already stated in 2005.
Few cases are brought to court and witnesses are killed such as in the case of the 2002 murder of Pagadian journalist Edgar Damalerio, where two of the three prosecution witnesses – Edgar Amoro and Jury Ladica – were killed even before pre-trial could actually begin. The third witness, Edgar Onggue, was the subject of a failed assassination attempt in February of 2005.
War Lords and Family Feuds, The Rule of Force in Maguindanao
In Maguindanao, Central Mindanao, for many years the implementation of law and order has been challenged by several factors; limited control exercised by the Philippine Government, a culture of Warlordship, clan feuds, and repeated clashes between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and various armed groups fighting for different causes have kept the area in peril. In August 2008 a renewed outbreak of fighting between Government troops and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has displaced more than 700.000 people.
Families who hold political positions or own larger property have built private armies to secure and protect themselves against their political enemies such as the Ampatuan family and the Mangudadatu.
Family feuds are often blood feuds, known under the name ‘Rido’. The culture of Rido requires the revenge of a family members dead through bloodshed, which triggers a cycle of mutual killings and can often hardly be solved through negotiation.
The Maguindanao Massacre has happened in this cultural and political context in which the arm of the Philippine law is far and weak and it is common to eliminate enemies through brutal violence
The more urgent it becomes for the Philippine Government to get a grip on the situation. Reports of the Philippine Daily Inquirer already talked about plans for a general disarmament of private armies and a cleaning of local police forces from ‘scalawags’ as Chief Supt. Leonardo Espina, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police,stated in a news conference. According to Espina about 60 local police officers were already detained for their possible involvement in the Maguindanao killings, and about 1000 were under investigation.
Will the Rule of the Jungle Mark the 2010 Elections ?
Although the death of an unprecedented number of journalists raises much of the international outrage, the problem is not a media internal one. If investigation proves that the attack in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao has been related to the upcoming elections the tone has been set for the campaign season.
Limited pursue of the perpetrators would not only prove the incapability or disinterest of the Government in protecting press freedom and the safety of the Philippine media as stated by media safety groups before. But it has the potential to open hells gates to the use of all means in the struggle for power and political control.
Fraud has been a problem in all previous elections not only in central Mindanao but all over the country with the current president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself being exposed in embarrassing tape records for manipulating the election results.
However, the killing of nearly 60 people, including at least 30 journalists but also two lawyers and a large group of civilians, many among them women, has shown a new extend of violence possible if the law is not rigidly implemented bringing justice to the victims and making all those involved accountable. Journalists Killed in Ampatuan Town, Maguindanao, Central Mindanao
November 23,2009:
1. Adolfo, Benjie, Gold Star Daily, Koronadal City
2. Bataluna, Rubello, Gold Star Daily, Koronadal City 3. Cachuela, Hannibal, Punto News, Koronadal City
4. Legarte, Bienvenido, Jr., Prontiera News, Koronadal City
5. Maravilla, Ernesto “Bart,” Bombo Radyo, Koronadal City
6. Merisco, Rey, Periodico Ini, Koronadal City
7. Perante, Ronnie, Gold Star Daily correspondent, Koronadal City
8. Parcon, Joel, Prontiera News, Koronadal City
General Santos City
1. Araneta, Henry, Radio DZRH, General Santos City
2. Arriola, Mark Gilbert “Mac-Mac,” UNTV, General Santos City
3. Betia, Arturo, Periodico Ini, General Santos City
4. Cablitas, Marites, News Focus, General Santos City
5. Caniban, John, Periodico Ini, General Santos City
6. Dalmacio, Lea, Socsargen News, General Santos City
7. Decina, Noel, Periodico Ini, General Santos City
8. Dela Cruz, Gina, Saksi News, General Santos City
9. Dohillo, Eugene, UNTV, General Santos City
Tacurong City
1. Cabillo, Romeo Jimmy, Midland Review, Tacurong City
2. Duhay, Jhoy, Gold Star Daily, Tacurong City
3. Momay, Reynaldo “Bebot” Momay, Midland Review, Tacurong City
4. Teodoro, Andres “Andy,” Central Mindanao Inquirer, Tacurong City
Davao City
1. Gatchalian, Santos, DXGO, Davao City
2. Lupogan, Lindo, Mindanao Daily Gazette, Davao City
General Santos City
1. Montaño, Marife “Neneng,” Saksi News, General Santos City
2. Morales, Rosell, News Focus, General Santos City
3. Nuñez, Victor, UNTV, General Santos City
4. Razon, Fernando “Rani,” Periodico Ini, General Santos City
5. Reblando, Alejandro “Bong,” Manila Bulletin, General Santos City
6. Subang, Ian, Socsargen Today, General Santos City
Cotabato City
1. Salaysay, Napoleon, Mindanao Gazette, Cotabato City
Still unaccounted for:
1. Evardo, Jolito, UNTV General Santos City
By AK with reports of Karlon Rama, Ryan Rosauro, Nonoy Espina |
