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| US-based Filipino journalists condemn Ampatuan massacre |
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SAN FRANCISCO—Members of the Philippine American Press Club USA denounced, in strongest words possible, the November 23 massacre of 31 journalists and 27 civilian casualties in Ampatuan, Maguindanao during a memorial mass at the St. Patrick’s church here last Wednesday, Dec. 2.
"Whether one or 10 or 57 have been murdered, what should truly enrage us is the fact that these extra-judicial killings are the result of a socio-political system that abets them," exclaimed Greg Macabenta, publisher of Filipinas Magazine and national chair of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA).
Macabenta added that the Philippines,—from north to south—is a nation of warlords, controlled by powerful families that have a monopoly of businesses and occupy the key elective and appointive positions available, growing and protecting their fiefdoms with private armies.
He also challenged his fellow journalists to let the whole world know about the brutality of these private armies and to hold accountable the national officials who have been tolerating them.
"We have the ability and the resources to cast the spotlight on the warlords and their political patrons. Let us use that. Let us expose the cancer in our Motherland in order to force those who have been tolerating it. And let us not fight alone. Let us call on the fraternity of journalists around the world for support," Macabenta said.
The event also gathered speakers who shared their thoughts on the matter.
Among them was Phil Bronstein, executive editor of The San Francisco Chronicle, who related an experience when he was working in Manila as a journalist.
"This is a great shame for a country whose reporters have shown honor and dedication to their craft. This was a barbaric act. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, there have been 134 crimes against journalists since 1986. No amount of killing will ever silence the message," Bronstein remarked, explaining that there are people who are out to kill the message by killing the messenger.
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