by Gabriela Baron
Manila Today

Students, alongside media professionals, gathered to honor the 14th anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre on Thursday, Nov. 23, at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Mass Communications (CMC).

On Nov. 23, 2009, in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao del Sur, 58 individuals en route to the filing of the certificate of candidacy for then-Buluan Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu were ambushed, abducted, and tragically slain. Among the victims were the wife and sister of political candidate Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) labeled the Maguindanao massacre as the deadliest event for journalists globally, claiming the lives of 34 media practitioners.

Approximately 200 suspects faced detainment in what many dubbed the “trial of the decade.” On Dec. 19, 2019, Ampatuan brothers, Datu Andal Jr. and Zaldy Ampatuan, received convictions for 57 counts of murder, each sentenced to 40 years. An additional 15 individuals received sentences ranging from 6 to 10 years for being accessories to the crime. However, 55 others, including Datu Sajid Islam Ampatuan, brother of Andal Jr. and Zaldy, were acquitted.

Fourteen years after the Maguindanao massacre, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) highlighted that the country “continues to pose threats to journalists.”

“Though the 2009 massacre has slipped from headlines, the media community remains unwavering in demanding an end to impunity for crimes against journalists,” stated NUJP.

“Attaining justice in this case and addressing other assaults on journalists will signal that attacks on the press are intolerable in a democratic society, fostering a safer media environment in the Philippines,” emphasized NUJP.

Additionally, UP CMC reiterated its plea to safeguard journalists worldwide who have faced assaults and harassment, underscoring the ongoing efforts of media professionals to shed light on critical events.

Despite the Philippines’ rise in global rankings for journalist safety, moving from 147 to 132 in May, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) reported 204 cases of media killings from 1987 to 2023.

PTFoMS, an inter-agency body established during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s term, is entrusted with safeguarding members of the press.