Filipino youth demanding accountability and justice from the Arroyo administration for the Ampatuan massacre in 2009. Photo: Victor Villanueva

Almost two years after the massacre of 32 journalists in Ampatuan in the Philippines, journalists are still at risk and impunity remains an overwhelming issue

- Before carrying out the massacre, the perpetrators collected everyone's mobile phones and cut off all communication to the outside world. It was very well-planned and challenged every safety training protocol in the world, says Asia Pacific Advisor for International Media Support (IMS), Ranga Kalansooriya.

Together with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) IMS has been training Filipino journalists in safety measures over the past two years. A recent killing of a local radio commentator in the Negros Occidental province highlights a still increasing need for safety for journalists.

Saving lives and uniting journalists

After the Ampatuan massacre in 2009 IMS and the Open Society Institute established a safety office on the conflict-ridden island Mindanao which according to Ranga Kalansooriya has secured the lives of at least half a dozen journalists.

- The Philippines has been a challenge for everyone, but we have made real impact. The safety office we established has managed to save at least 6 lives so far, says Ranga Kalansooriya.

The safety office is now expanding its operations outside Mindanao as many journalists remain at risk across The Philippines.

- There is an enormous need for expansion. Apart from increased funds and technical assistance, it's also a matter of bringing unity among the country's journalists and media organisations. We need to share experiences across the media sector to address the underlying issues journalists are facing, says Kalansooriya.

A culture of impunity

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports over 60 journalists killed in the past ten years. According to Ranga Kalansooriya, the overwhelming majority of the perpetrators of these killings were never indicted, and the Ampatuan massacre is only one example of the brutality against journalists, although the biggest in decades.

- Impunity is an overarching nationwide epidemic. Ampatuan is one symptom of this epidemic. To move forward there needs to be a policy change towards journalists and their safety. The government has to prove they are committed to free speech and the safety of journalists. Otherwise impunity will prevail.

The Philippines recently saw a killing of another media professional, when radio commentator Niel Jimena in the Negros Occidental province was shot dead on August 22. Romeo Olea, another radio commentator was killed in June.

Together with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), IMS continues its support to the Filipino journalists with training on safety and professional standards.