The year 2009 has been the worst year for media practioners particularly in the Philippines, so far. This is because of what have had happened in Maguindanao where journalists and civilians were murdered rudely and inhumanely.
On December 4, 2009, twelve days after the worst scenario in the history of Journalism in all human history occurred, the University of the Philippines’ College of Mass Communication conducted a program where different speakers from different media groups converged and discussed why the gruesome massacre occurred and also the current situation of the case.
Former CMC Dean Luis V. Teodoro, the chairman of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Attorney Leila M. de Lima, the director of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Ms. Rowena Paraan, the station manager of UNTV Mr. Jay Sonza, the legal counsellor of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) and the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) Attorney Rejie Jularbal, and a representative from the Philippine Collegian were the one who spoke and gave their insights.
The program entitled “’Wag bibitiw sa Maguindanao 57” was held at the CMC Auditorium and was aired live on the radio at DZUP 1602 on December 4.
Prof. Teodoro said that the country is on its way to being a failed state status which is ‘self-inflicted by its very rulers.’ He also predicted that most of the killers will literally get away with murder despite the declaration of state of emergency in Maguindanao.
Atty. de Lima agrees on what Prof. Teodoro predicts and that ‘victims may not get justice.’ She added that there have been previous killings done by the same perpetrators and there are more mass graves in different fields in the area. According to her, the CHR is having difficulty obtaining a backhoe for digging since they cannot borrow nor rent to private individuals in Ampatuan so they will just borrow from the province of Sultan Kudarat where relatives of Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu serves. She assured everyone that the CHR is doing its duties to deliver justice to the victims.
Ms. Paraan said that the 57 victims in the massacre is just the minimum number because the name of the drivers of the media vehicles and even camera men who is included in the convoy is not included in the attendance sheet bearing only the reporters’ names. She added that the sheet was obtained by the NUJP. She told about the story of Bong Reblando, a reporter of Manila Bulletin, and his wife’s stories. She said that Bong has been a reporter for 15 years and only this year when he was regularized before the gruesome day occurred. And the day when the wife identified his body is the same date as their 35th wedding anniversary.
Mr. Jay Sonza, who is raised in the ARMM, said that the Ampatuans are not really that famous dring his time there. It was the Mangudadatus who reign in the political arena in that area. According to him, the Ampatuans became just in 2001- same as Gloria Macapagal Arroyo came into power and assumed the presidential post.
I was not able to finish the program because I still have a class during the talk but even if was not able to hear the other speakers, I can still say that I heard a lot of information that I haven’t read in newspapers, not seen on the television and not heard over the radio.
I am really on burning with desire, upon hearing the talks of various speakers, to continue serving the people despite life-threatening scenario of the press in the country where the culture of impunity prevails.
What touched me the most was the story of Ms. Paraan during her interview with Mr. Reblando’s wife that when she was asked by the wife “Bakit kayo Masaya na media kayo?” She couldn’t answer. And when she turned the question to the wife, on why her husband is happy on being on media, her answer was, “Kasi minsan may natutulungan siya ‘pag may lumalapit sa kanya. At masayang-masaya siya ‘pag mayroon s’yang scoop.”
It is obvious that these journalist-victims knew that their life was at risk from the very start, but telling the people about a challenge of this Mangudadatu against the unchallenged and undefeated Ampatuan is their duty and their responsibility to the people.
As I write this article, it has been 15 days now since the barbaric killings of 57 civilian people, yet the government keeps on saying that justice is on the way which I oppose to believe. This government keeps on fooling the Filipino people, but we are still here- the media practitioners and students to keep track on every move the silly ruler. We can assure that we will not forget what have these 57 people suffered and we will keep on shouting for justice ‘til they hear us.
First published as a requirement in Journalism 101, 2nd Semester, 2009-2010.
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