IFJ led an International Mission participating in a protest march in Manila's streets. Photo:Nonoy Espina

More killings, more attacks on media, high degree of impunity; these could be the key words if one wants to write about the media situation in the Philippines, one of the most dangerous place for journalists in the world

By Ranga Kalansooriya, IMS

President Macapagal Arroyo will officially end her nine-year regime on June 30 – an era that marked with an unprecedented total of 104 killings of media workers. According to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)’s figures, the total number of killings of media workers stands at 140 since democracy was restored in the Philippines when the Marcos dictatorship was overthrown in 1986.

The Ampatuan Massacre

Following the ruthless Ampatuan massacre on 23 November 2009 which killed 58 civilians along with 32 journalists in Maguindanao in the conflict-ridden Mindanao Province, the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said the Philippines had effectively supplanted Iraq as the most dangerous place for journalists.

The question at large remains whether the new president elect Benigno “Nonoy” Aquino can ensure the safety of the media by ending impunity and punishing the culprits.  

“Aquino needed a press safe from violence if he wished to stamp out corruption,” the US said in a statement last week pledging to help him curb media killings.

Failure of witness protection programme

The six-week period of power transition has been heavily tainted with blood with at least three killings of journalists, mainly after the lifting of the election-related gun-ban in June 09. Adding to this number was not a journalist, but a key witness of the Nov 23 Ampatuan massacre, Suwaib Upham.

- One would be justified to expect a lull in this period of transition, a period of wait-and-see. But it appears now that impunity in this country has reached such levels that those who would silence the independent Philippino media feel confident enough to believe that no matter who sits in Malacañang (the Presidential Palace), they will not be punished, says Nonoy Espina, the Deputy Chief of NUJP.

- The killing of the suspect-turned State witness Upham was a great loss to the case, lawyer Harry Roque, representative of the families of several victims, was quoted as saying in media reports.  

- He was supposed to be one of our strongest witnesses. He saw, and participated in the killings and could have directly named in the court those involved, Roque told reporters.

Surprisingly Upham was protected by the Mindanao based guerillas Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) upon his defection from the accused Amaptuan Clan (the family share their name with the area), but not by the state. His move to seek refuge with the MILF was a cardinal point in the failure of the central government’s witness protection program, as pointed out by some critiques.

Journalist killers go unpunished

 A total of 197 people are charged in the massacre case, including 29 members of the Ampatuan clan. Sixty-two of those charged are detained, including former Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his sons, former Mayor Andal Jr. and ex-Governor Zaldy Ampatuan, said Philippines popular daily ‘Inquirer.’

Few police officers, a village head and a newly elected Vice Mayor along with several aides are among the accused of the other recent murder cases where three journalists were gunned down within a period of five days. Among the victims were a broadcaster and an editorial consultant.  

- It is clear that government’s failure or, and we suspect this is more accurate, refusal to hold accountable those responsible for the killings – especially the masterminds – makes it equally guilty, an accomplice to the bloodbath that has made a mockery of all our claims to being a democracy, NUJP said in a statement last week.

Seeking justice for victims

Indeed, the lives lost over the past nine years – not only of media, but of activists, lawyers, judges – all of which continue to cry out for justice, makes a compelling case for state accountability.

- Which is why, while Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should doubtless be held accountable for presiding over the most murderous period for the Philippine press, her successor should be held equally held to account for ensuring that the killing end and that long overdue justice is given at last to the victims, Nonoy said.

- It is, of course, a complex challenge, one that will demand not only the will to actually order the killings stopped and all past cases resolved, but to also to dismantle the system of governance that has allowed the brains behind the murders to remain untouched all these years, he added.

IMS in the Philippines

IMS was among the few media activist groups that quickly responded to the Ampatuan massacre by actively participating in the International Solidarity Mission that visited and inquired on the killings barely within 10 days into the incident. Since then, IMS has become an important player in the media safety and advocacy programs in the Philippines with IFJ coordination. It has assisted the establishment of a comprehensive safety fund in the archipelago through which the much needed Mindanao safety office has been set up along with several other key operations. Specifically IMSs’ technical support in the establishment of the Safety Fund was highly admired by the implementer NUJP.