Appalling

THERE are unresolved cases of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines that have become emblematic of persistent dangers that threaten everyone. The government’s underwhelming efforts to successfully alleviate crimes against members of the media and other social critics have created an environment of insidious impunity.
Despite the commitment by authorities and other organizations to find effective actions to safeguard journalists in the country—especially those that cover the most violent regions—the attacks against the press apparently have not stopped.
The Philippines remains as one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists, according to the annual list by International News Safety Institute (INSI). The country came in third, just after war-torn countries such as Syria and Iraq. India and Pakistan came in fourth and fifth respectively.
Funded by major world news organizations, INSI has been issuing the annual report since 1996. According to the London-based institute, crime is a relatively significant problem in the country.
“There is a long-standing history of political unrest in the Philippines,” INSI said in its website. “Incidents of politically motivated unrest are still relatively frequent throughout the Philippines, particularly in the capital Manila.”
This week marks the fifth anniversary of the infamous Maguindanao massacre. Tagged as the single deadliest attack on journalists in history, Filipinos will remember and mourn the carnage that took place on Nov. 23, 2009, where 58 people died, 32 of them journalists.
The convoy was on its way to the provincial capitol to file the candidacy of Esmael Mangudadatu, to file on his behalf the certificate of candidacy for governor of Maguindanao during the May 2010 elections. The group was ambushed by militiamen and certain leaders of the Ampatuan clan, then ruling the province. The victims were killed with assault rifles and machetes and were buried into a nearby hill.
The news shocked the entire world and remains a recurring nightmare up to this day.
“The massacre underlines the terrible dangers that Filipino journalists face. It also highlights the inability and unwillingness of the State to ensure the protection and safety of journalists who are seeking to perform their duties to keep the public informed. The massacre, coming at the very beginning of the 2010 election process, not only undermines that process but has dealth a cruel blow to democracy and free media in the Philippines,” according to the International Federation of Journalists.
The horror lingers as the the march of the relatives, friends and supporters of the victims of Maguindanao massacre continues. Many have already lamented the slow pace of justice for the people left behind by those who perished.
For its part, the Philippine government vowed to sustain efforts to bring to justice the perpetrators of media killings. While authorities run after the culprits, the judiciary is urged to hasten the resolution of pending cases of slain journalists, including the Maguindanao massacre case. Malacañang vowed to uphold press freedom and recognize their contributions to strengthening the country’s democracy.
The commemoration of the Maguindanao massacre also calls for a stronger awareness in protecting human rights. It took five years and faltering steps of truth and justice, to have the suspects arrested and detained. But justice will remain elusive until a conviction is passed.
(AJPress)