Most
people are saying that press are very much free to exercise their
freedom yet there are still press repression and media
men killings. Let's be involved in order to call for a proper
freedom press should have because a country without freedom is like a
human without senses, not totally senseless but completely hypocrite.
Since
this week is Press Freedom Week, Let me share you this article of
mine. It was recently published in our student magazine; second
semester of the year 2011-2012.
Paglimbasog
para sa Hustisya
The Philippine press,
though it has undergone striking changes, has been regarded as one of
the freest in the world for some time, like its counterparts in other
free countries. Throughout the history, it has embraced the widened
scope of the field of journalism and as a matter of fact, it always
has, then and now. Journalists exert effort to do their duties which
is according to the Philippine Star publisher, Maximo V. Soliven, “to
comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” Needless to
say, the nation must very grateful for these gallant individuals.
However, not all entities appreciated these. If we try to watch daily
news cast, we still can say that there are still press repression,
killings of media men and many others. The very obvious example of
that is the awful Maguindanao massacre happened more than two years
ago.
The
Maguindanao Massacre
The
deadly incident happened on November 23, 2009 in the town of
Ampatuan, Maguindanao while the victims were on their way to file a
candidacy for Esmael Mangudadatu, vice mayor of town of Buluan. They
were then kidnapped and brutally killed.
The stated reason
behind the incident was Mangudadatu was challenging Datu Unsay mayor
Andal Ampatuan Jr., son of the incumbent Maguindanao governor, in the
forthcoming gobernatorial election of 2010, part of the national
elections.
There
are 58 people killed in the massacre including Mangudadatu’s wife,
his two sisters, journalists, lawyers, aides and motorists who were
witnesses or mistakenly identified as part of the convey. The
massacre was considered as the single deadliest event for journalists
in history according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) as
there are 34 journalists killed. It is so miserable to know that
Philippines ranked second as the most dangerous country for
journalist, second to Iraq.
End
Impunity Campaign
“Stop killings, end
impunity!,” These are the words shouted buy the people from various
organizations last during the opening activity of Stop Killings, End
Impunity campaign headed by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan at Plaza
Divisoria, Cagayan de Oro City.
The
activity was opened also to student publications of different
universities and even in high schools.
“Paglantaw bale sa
nahitabo, sa brutal na pagkamatay sa mga biktima sa
massacre.
Panawagan, pagpaningil ug hustisya,” Vanessa
Entia, Regional Coordinator of Kabataan Partylist (Northern
Mindanao), said. The event was with the purpose of remembering the
second anniversary of Maguindanao massacre.
“Kung
unsa siya [Maguindanao massacre] ka-seryoso, mao gi-open sa
student pub
[publication] kay isa sa dapat paniman-an [of
all students],” she added explaining that it is a social
responsibility of the students to know the happenings even outside
the university.
The
event opening started at the plaza divisoria which was considered as
the starting point of the parade going to Gaisano mall – Osmeña
where the main opening program took place.
The
parade was then resumed towards the McArthur Park and stopped infront
of the Press Freedom monument for the main and closing ceremony.
During
the ceremony, there are bands present which the songs played conveyed
message on voicing the call of justice of Maguindanao massacre.
Various groups and organizations are also present during the event
which includes Cagayan de Oro Press Club, National Union of
Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), College Editors Guild of the
Philippines (CEGP), Karapatan – Northern Mindanao, Women
Journalists of Cagayan de Oro, Sunstar Cagayan de oro, News Star, K9,
Birada Binta Birad and Mindanao News Daily. There are also
representatives from various radio networks in Mindanao such as DXJR,
Radyo Mindanao Network (RMN), Bombo Radyo, Magnum Radyo and DXCU
Radyo Asenso where Rey Abacahin, the program organizer, came from.
In
his closing speech, he said that the Maguindanao massacre has already
reached its second year anniversary and yet, the justice has not been
given in which most of the people should fight for the innocent
civilians and media people who were killed in the massacre.
“I
organized this movement to remind everyone nga ang kaso sa
Maguindanao
massacre dili lang i-set aside sa mga tao kundi tagaan ug importansya
para pud kini nga wake
up call for the citizens and labi na sa pamilya sa mga biktima nga
musinggit ug tagaan tag bili ang kaso sa
Maguindanao
massacre,” Abacahin ended.
***
Indeed,
the Maguindanao massacre produced fear and confusion to most
Filipinos but it is not a circumstance that will hinder the purpose
of the existence of press in giving the truth and in provoking
people’s consciousness but it is a precursor that truth should
always prevail because with the truth, the justice will come out.
The
“Stop Killing, End Impunity” is not for the sake of being a
come-and-go event but it echoes out that the call for today is to end
impunity, the impunity that bunged up Filipinos to know and to voice
out the truth.
Disclaimer:
This article is first published in The Trailblazer, second semester
S.Y. 2011-2012, written by Irene Joy B. Dayo.
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