NUJP cautions vs charging media for hostage-taking incident

Note: This statement was released yesterday, Sept. 19, 2010 by the (NUJP, in anticipation to today’s release of the IIRC Report):

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) cautions government on filing charges against, or even attributing criminal liability to, journalists over the bloody August 23 hostage taking incident in Manila.
　
The Philippine media have, by and large, acknowledged these lapses and have begun discussing ways to individually and collectively ensure that more care and sensitivity are taken in future coverage of similar delicate situations. Several have made concrete corrective measures like revising or strengthening guidelines on coverage of similar incidents.
　
These lapses were committed in the course of media’s fulfilling their duty to inform the people of an event of vital public interest. To equate these lapses in judgment with criminal liability and haling journalists to court and threatening imprisonment, are making media the scapegoat for what essentially was government incompetence on all levels.
　
More seriously, it would set a terrible precedent that would ever dangle like Damocles’ sword over the head of media whenever they strive to fulfill their duties.The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) cautions government on filing charges against, or even attributing criminal liability to, journalists over the bloody August 23 hostage taking incident in Manila.
　
The Philippine media have, by and large, acknowledged these lapses and have begun discussing ways to individually and collectively ensure that more care and sensitivity are taken in future coverage of similar delicate situations. Several have made concrete corrective measures like revising or strengthening guidelines on coverage of similar incidents.
　
These lapses were committed in the course of media’s fulfilling their duty to inform the people of an event of vital public interest. To equate these lapses in judgment with criminal liability and haling journalists to court and threatening imprisonment, are making media the scapegoat for what essentially was government incompetence on all levels.
　
More seriously, it would set a terrible precedent that would ever dangle like Damocles’ sword over the head of media whenever they strive to fulfill their duties.The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) cautions government on filing charges against, or even attributing criminal liability to, journalists over the bloody August 23 hostage taking incident in Manila.
　
The Philippine media have, by and large, acknowledged these lapses and have begun discussing ways to individually and collectively ensure that more care and sensitivity are taken in future coverage of similar delicate situations. Several have made concrete corrective measures like revising or strengthening guidelines on coverage of similar incidents.
　
These lapses were committed in the course of media’s fulfilling their duty to inform the people of an event of vital public interest. To equate these lapses in judgment with criminal liability and haling journalists to court and threatening imprisonment, are making media the scapegoat for what essentially was government incompetence on all levels.
　
More seriously, it would set a terrible precedent that would ever dangle like Damocles’ sword over the head of media whenever they strive to fulfill their duties.

Joint Statement of the November 23 Movement

Joint Statement of the November 23 Movement

Dear Colleagues,

Last November 28, several media organizations and newspaper publishers and editors met to discuss the horrific massacre of journalists, lawyers, and several others in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao and to map out plans for a concerted effort to push for justice for all victims of the carnage.

Among those who attended were officers of the Center for Community Journalism and Development (CCJD), Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists (FFFJ), Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP), National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Philippine Press Institute (PPI), Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project/Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Philippine Daily Inquirer, and People’s Journal.

The groups collectively called themselves the November 23 Movement, with the hope that more media organizations and individuals would join the initiative.

One of the immediate actions agreed upon was to issue a joint statement calling on the government to swiftly bring the perpetrators of this most terrible crime to the bar of justice to our full satisfaction. Those who attended the meeting have adopted the joint statement.

We appeal to you to print or air this joint statement on December 1 to express our collective outrage and grief against this abomination inflicted not only on the media but on human dignity and decency as well.

We also call on everyone to join or express solidarity in other actions that will follow the issuance of this statement.

For more information, please contact the secretariat: Rorie Fajardo of PHRRP (0905) 3154986 and roriegirl@yahoo.com; Sonny Fernandez (0908) 3259620 and freetosay@gmail.com; Trina Federis of CEGP, (0910) 4803098 and cegphils@gmail.com; and Sweet Cawicaan of CCJD 376-5550.

Thank you.

1. Business World – Vergel Santos
2. College Editors Guild (CEGP) – Trina Federis
3. Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) – Luis Teodoro
4. Center for Community Journalism and Development (CCJD) – Adelina S. Alvarez, Red Batario
5. Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) — Gabby Tabunar*
6. Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists (FFFJ) – Jose L. Pavia
7. Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) – Rey Hulog/Herman Basbano*
8. National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) – Nestor Burgos, Inday Espina, Sonny Fernandez, Marlon Ramos, May Rodriguez
9. People’s Journal – Badette Tamayo
10. Philippine Daily Inquirer – Isagani Yambot
11. Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project — Rorie Fajardo
12. Philippine Press Institute (PPI) – Jose L. Pavia

——–

A Challenge of Conscience

The brutal, indiscriminate mass murder on Monday in Ampatuan town, in Maguindanao province, raises the ultimate challenge of conscience. It carries the culture of impunity at work in this country to such levels of horror that, if it remains unpunished for long, can send the nation into an inexorable descent into absolute dehumanization.

The crime thus calls for swift justice, which can only be achieved through a credible and independent process, which in turn can only be achieved without the hand of this government – a “government generally mistrusted because it is friendly to the members of the clan accused in the massacre”.

We, ourselves colleagues of the more than a score journalists who were killed, demand the following:

One, the creation of a commission outside the government to investigate the crime;

Two, the arrest and prosecution of all the people involved in it in any way, as murderers themselves or their protectors;

Three, the formation of a special court to try the case;

Four, fully guaranteed protection for the witnesses;

Five, the disarming and dismantling of all private armies, such as those evidently employed in the massacre.

Six, the enlistment of persons of unquestioned probity in the whole process;

And finally, the resignation of the government if it fails to deliver such basic satisfaction – indeed, the very same government that has encouraged, by partisanship and conspiracy, the culture of impunity of which the massacre has been the most abominable manifestation.

Signed:

Business World
Center for Community Journalism and Development (CCJD)
Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR)
College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP)
Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists (FFFJ)
National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)
Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI)
Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project (PHRRP)
Philippine Press Institute (PPI)
Ellen Tordisillas
Rommel Rebollido
Edwin Espejo
Froilan Gallardo

NUJP Calls for A National Day of Indignation

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) calls on all its members and fellow journalists to join the “National Day of Indignation” on Wednesday, November 25, in honor of the slain journalists in the Maguindanao massacre.

Journalists in Manila will hold a rally at 5:30 p.m. at the Boy Scout’s Monument, Tomas Morato corner Timog Avenue. At 6 p.m., candles will be lighted and the names of all media fatalities will be displayed.

NUJP Vice Chairman Nonoy Espina and Treasurer Rowena Paraan will be joining a fact-finding team along with representatives of other media organization that will leave for Maguindanao Tuesday to gather information on the incident to find ways how to help the victims’ families.

We encourage all our chapters to hold their own protest actions in whatever form according to your capacity ranging from the release of your chapter’s statements, wearing of black shirts, holding a Mass, prayer rally, pocket and other forms of protest.

We can also invite other organizations and sectors including lawyers’ organizations, church groups, cause oriented organizations and others who may sympathize with our cause.

NUJP Baguio-Benguet Chapter Statement

November 23 was a dark day for the media community, civil society and the Philippine nation as a whole.

The violent incident in Maguindanao  did not only desecrate our continuing struggle for  press freedom but it desecrated all levels of democracy such as right to life.

The carnage that claimed lives of  22 people — journalists, women and civilians, only mirrored how rich was  the culture of violence that was being carried out by people who continue to abuse their powers, and how poor our government was in securing our rights as ordinary people.

While election related violence is not new in the Cordillera region where political warlords and dynasties exist, and where private armies are utilized at a maximum to prove that they are in command, we do not stay  afloat to seek an end to the supremacy of corruption of wealth and  abuse of power.

Let us open our eyes to these harsh realities because the moment we shut ourselves from these realities, a bullet may strike anytime in our midst soon…ignorance is an ally of perpetrators  of violence.

Being silent in these times when all sectors of society are calling for swift justice for those who were killed, would be an exercise in futility. The carnage did not only send a message that bloodshed was necessary for those who wanted to exercise  their might, it also sent us a message that anyone across sectors of society would not be spared in senseless killings and threats of blood bath.

While we demand for swift justice for those who departed  and accountability from Arroyo administration, we also call for rage! Let us not be silenced by the sound of gunshots, instead, let us express our rage to start an end to the culture of violence which only perpetuates political warlords.  We call for people from various sectors of society to speak up and let your voice be heard.

Let us be vigilant. Let us not falter in our vigilance.

STATEMENT OF FILIPINO JOURNALISTS IN THE UNITED STATES

STATEMENT OF FILIPINO JOURNALISTS IN THE UNITED STATES

Filipino journalists in the US capital and other American cities today condemned the slaughter of dozens of people – including about a dozen journalists – in Maguindanao.

They demanded the government take all steps necessary to capture, dead or alive, those responsible for the massacre.

“The Philippine government must act swiftly and decisively to bring all the perpetrators to justice, irrespective of their positions or political affiliations,” they said in a statement.

The statement was signed by, among others, Lito Katigbak, Philippine Star and Manila Mail; Cristina DC Pastor, Managing Editor of Philippine News; Bing Branigin, Manila Mail; Rodney Jaleco, ABS-CBN News (Washington DC) and Pinoy Herald; Jun Medina, Manila Times; Lenn Almadin-Thornhill and Monette Rivera, ABS-CBN News (New York); Rita Gerona-Adkins, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine News and Asian Fortune; and Mary Estacion, ABS-CBN News (Baltimore).

The Paris-based Reporters Without Borders noted “Never in the history of journalism have the news media suffered such a heavy loss of life in one day.”

The US-based journalists noted the killings could not have come at a worst possible time since the US Congress is examining whether to cut military aid to the Philippines because of serious human rights violations, including the killing of journalists.

They expressed solidarity with their brethren in the Philippines, especially those working in Mindanao.

“We convey to them our message of sympathy and unity during this dark period in Philippine journalism,” their statement read.

“As journalists here in the United States, we feel that we too are victims of this senseless violence,” they said.

(From Rodney Jaleco)