Filipino journalists light candles Saturday, November 28, 2009 after a Catholic mass led by Archbishop Romulo Valles in Zamboanga City for the souls of 57 people, among them at least 29 journalists massacred in the town of Ampatuan in Maguindanao province in the southern Philippines. Six more journalists are still unaccounted. A town mayor Andal Ampatuan Jnr, scion of the powerful Ampatuan clan, is accused of masterminding the killings which police say is election-related. The politician denies all accusations against him and blames the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels for the November 23 massacre, an allegation flatly rejected by authorities. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / November 28, 2009) – A group of Filipino Journalists offered a Catholic mass on Saturday in Zamboanga City to remember the 57 people, including more than two dozen colleagues, brutally killed in Maguindanao province in the Muslim autonomous region in the southern Philippines.
The mass, led by Archbishop Romulo Valles, was held at the open-air Catholic shrine called Fort Pilar and also attended by about 200 people. "This mass is offered for those who were killed in Maguindanao," the Reverend Valles said, as he called on media workers to stay vigilant.
Members of the Zamboanga Press Club and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines ended the mass with the lighting of candles that symbolized each of those massacred on November 23 in the town of Ampatuan.
Reporters Without Borders, quoting media reports, said 29 journalists were among those murdered. Six more journalists are still unaccounted for.
A town mayor Andal Ampatuan Jnr, scion of the powerful Ampatuan clan, is accused of masterminding the killings which police said was election-related. The politician, who is said to be running for governor in Maguindanao in next year’s polls, denied all accusations against him and blamed the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels for the massacre, an allegation flatly rejected by authorities.
His father, Andal Ampatuan Snr, is the current governor of Maguindanao while his elder brother, Zaldy Ampatuan, is the governor of the Muslim autonomous region to which the province belongs.
The United Nations urged the Philippine government to fully investigate the brutal slaying of 57 people. “This monstrous crime must not go unpunished,” said Irina Bokova, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Bokova urged the Arroyo government to carry out a full and swift investigation into the murderous attack.
The UNESCO is the only United Nations agency with a mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom.
“I condemn this outrage and urge the Government of the Philippines to act swiftly, using all the resources at its disposal to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“The barbaric killings of the people in the convoy – journalists and citizens alike – were clearly an attack against democracy and democratic processes. Furthermore, the killing of journalists violates the rights of the Philippine people to be freely and fairly informed of political developments,” she added.
The journalists were traveling in a convoy with the wife and relatives and supporters of Buluan town vice mayor Esmael Mangudadatu in Maguindanao’s Shariff Aguak town when they were held by more than 100 gunmen from a rival faction and herded to a remote hillside where they were executed. (Mindanao Examiner)
The mass, led by Archbishop Romulo Valles, was held at the open-air Catholic shrine called Fort Pilar and also attended by about 200 people. "This mass is offered for those who were killed in Maguindanao," the Reverend Valles said, as he called on media workers to stay vigilant.
Members of the Zamboanga Press Club and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines ended the mass with the lighting of candles that symbolized each of those massacred on November 23 in the town of Ampatuan.
Reporters Without Borders, quoting media reports, said 29 journalists were among those murdered. Six more journalists are still unaccounted for.
A town mayor Andal Ampatuan Jnr, scion of the powerful Ampatuan clan, is accused of masterminding the killings which police said was election-related. The politician, who is said to be running for governor in Maguindanao in next year’s polls, denied all accusations against him and blamed the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels for the massacre, an allegation flatly rejected by authorities.
His father, Andal Ampatuan Snr, is the current governor of Maguindanao while his elder brother, Zaldy Ampatuan, is the governor of the Muslim autonomous region to which the province belongs.
The United Nations urged the Philippine government to fully investigate the brutal slaying of 57 people. “This monstrous crime must not go unpunished,” said Irina Bokova, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Bokova urged the Arroyo government to carry out a full and swift investigation into the murderous attack.
The UNESCO is the only United Nations agency with a mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom.
“I condemn this outrage and urge the Government of the Philippines to act swiftly, using all the resources at its disposal to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“The barbaric killings of the people in the convoy – journalists and citizens alike – were clearly an attack against democracy and democratic processes. Furthermore, the killing of journalists violates the rights of the Philippine people to be freely and fairly informed of political developments,” she added.
The journalists were traveling in a convoy with the wife and relatives and supporters of Buluan town vice mayor Esmael Mangudadatu in Maguindanao’s Shariff Aguak town when they were held by more than 100 gunmen from a rival faction and herded to a remote hillside where they were executed. (Mindanao Examiner)
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