By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA

(© 2009 Journal Group Link International)

C HICAGO, Illinois (JGLi) – Mainstream and ethnic-news organizations in the United States have launched fund drives to “extend assistance to the families of numerous journalists killed Monday in a brutal election-related massacre in the Philippine province of Maguindanao."

At the same time, more press organizations are issuing statements of solidarity in mourning the world’s biggest mass murders of journalists in a single event.

The Committee to Protect Journalists, an independent, non-profit organization based in New York City that promotes press freedom worldwide, had issued a statement saying, it “is working with local and international media support groups to extend assistance to the families of the numerous journalists killed Monday in a brutal election-related massacre in the Philippine province of Maguindanao.

“CPJ is heartened by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s strong response, which included pledges for full investigation and prosecution of the apparently politically motivated killings. But CPJ also said that the state of emergency declared in the province must not interfere with journalists seeking access and information to report on the killings.

“The Philippines has a long history of impunity in the case of the deaths of journalists — a history it had started to work to reverse in recent years. Now the country needs its press corps to fully cover this story of wanton political violence, which took so many lives, including those of journalists,” said Bob Dietz, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator.

At least 57 people were reported killed during the massacre. They included 27 journalists and up to 15 innocent motorists.

Meanwhile, an ethnic press group, Media Breakfast Club (MBC) based in Los Angeles, California, headed by Bobby M. Reyes is breathing life to its plan dubbed “Support for the Orphans of Slain Journalists” (SOS-J) that was discussed by officers of the NPC Phil.-USA following the visit of Tony Antonio, then, president of the National Press Club of the Philippines, in Chicago four years ago, when Mr. Antonio reported an increasing number of Filipino journalists being killed after martial law.

Mr. Reyes said it broke his heart to know that one of the victims in the massacre, Alejandro “Bong” Reblando, staff member of Manila Bulletin, was one of the special guests of MBC’s Dean Reyes Awards for Journalistic Excellence and Literary Distinction held at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel at the Los Angeles International Airport in 2001. Mr. Reblando accompanied then NPC President Louie Logarta, former NPC President Fred Gabot and two others to attend the event. Messrs. Logarta and Gabot spoke at the event.

Editor’s Note: To read more of the visit to the MBC in Los Angeles by Bong Reblando and the “SOS-Journalists” proposal, please click on this link, Remembering Bong Reblando (1956-2009) and the “Maguindanao 25” Slain Journalists

We are all saddened by this horrific massacre of innocent civilians, including the 12 (now 27) journalists who were on assignment to cover this pre-election event. Far too many men and women in our profession have been killed reporting on wars, corruption and crime. We must never forget their courage and willingness to risk their lives to get their stories to the public. – Allen Rafalson, president of the Chicago Journalists Association

In another development, the Asian-American Journalists Association, one of the biggest press organizations in the United States, issued a statement, mourning “the death of more than two dozen journalists in the massacre in the Philippines.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the slain," said AAJA National President Sharon Chan. "AAJA stands with journalists who risk their lives each day to shine a light into distant corners of the world.

“To the Philippines government, AAJA urges all steps be taken to bring to justice those responsible for the killings. The brazen act, we fear, could have a chilling effect on reporters and their work.

“To the slain journalists and the other victims, we extend to their families our sympathies and our thanks for their efforts to report and to illuminate the political process of that country.

“And to the Filipino journalism community at large, we express solidarity and offer our encouragement. We look to them to help reveal what happened in Maguindanao this week, and to continue the important journalistic role of pursuing truth and reporting without fear. We, at AAJA, stand with them on these shared principles.”

It was this reporter who called the attention of the new president of Chicago chapter of AAJA, Ameet Sachdev, business reporter of Chicago Tribune, and Inggrid Yonata, VP of membership, about the massacre. Mr. Sachdev promised to ask the AAJA national office to issue a statement of solidarity.

Meanwhile, Allen Rafalson, president of the Chicago Journalists Association, said, “We are all saddened by this horrific massacre of innocent civilians, including the 12 (now 27) journalists who were on assignment to cover this pre-election event. Far too many men and women in our profession have been killed reporting on wars, corruption and crime. We must never forget their courage and willingness to risk their lives to get their stories to the public.

“Our Chicago Journalists Association will hold a brief ceremony for them at our 71st annual dinner Dec. 3. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families.”

Mr. Dietz said, the President of the Philippines “might not be able to reverse the culture of violence that surrounds so much of political life in the Philippines, but she can certainly use this terrible incident to fight the impunity that surrounds journalists’ deaths.”

“The massacre is among the deadliest events for the press

(http://cpj.org/blog/2009/11/philippine-massacre-among-worst-for-journalists.php) in recent history, according to CPJ research. In Iraq, on October 12, 2006, eleven employees of Al-Shaabiya television were killed in an attack at the station’s Baghdad studios. Five of the victims were journalists, and six were media support workers. (URL: http://cpj.org/killed/2006/hussein-ali.php)

How the Maguindanao-27 Journalists Died

In Maguindanao, the journalists were covering relatives and supporters of a local politician who was about to file paperwork for his gubernatorial candidacy in the May 2010 election. More than 100 armed men attacked the convoy, which included relatives and allies of a local vice mayor, Ismael Mangudadatu. The vice mayor’s wife, Genalyn Mangudadatu, was among those in the convoy.

Some officials blamed the slaughter on a bitter rivalry between local political clans, according to news reports. Ismael Mangudadatu, who was not with the convoy, attributed the attack to his decision to seek the governorship of Maguindanao. The current Maguindanao governor, Andal Ampatuan, did not immediately issue a statement.

The Philippines is one of the most-dangerous places in the world for journalists, with 38 killed for their work since 1992. The figure does not include those slain last Monday. (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)

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