Category: Videocasts

‘Impunity biggest cause of violence vs journalists’

Ed Lingao Leave a comment

Text by Cong B. Corrales
Interview by Malou Mangahas

EACH UNRESOLVED CASE of violence against journalists is an open invitation for even more violence.

This was the message – and the reminder – of United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression Frank La Rue to the Philippines on the 4th anniversary of the Maguindanao Massacre, where 58 people including 32 mediamen were murdered in November 2009.

La Rue was interviewed by PCIJ Executive Director Malou Mangahas during the Asia Regional Consultation on Freedom of Expression and Civil Liberties in Bangkok last week.

La Rue also expressed his solidarity with Filipino journalists in the fight to end the culture of impunity in the country.

La Rue–who was in Manila for the first anniversary of the Maguindanao Massacre–pointed out the importance of remembering the grisly incident on November 23, four years ago, as a stark example of how impunity threatens the very fabric of democratic ideals.

“I have always been shocked that this is the biggest massacre of journalists–the biggest collective death of journalists in the world–in the history of journalism,” he said.

“I think it is very important to remember this incident to make this a message of eradication of impunity,” La Rue added.

Below is the full transcription of La Rue’s special message:

My name is Frank La Rue and I’m the UN special rapporteur for the freedom of expression around the world. (And) I want to take this opportunity to send a very special message to the people of the Philippines.

First of all, because of the typhoon that affected the Philippines my solidarity and my prayers are with the people of the Philippines at this moment to overcome this huge tragedy, who moved us all in the world.

And secondly, because this is the anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre, I was in Manila for the first anniversary and as special rapporteur on freedom of expression, I have always been shocked that this is the biggest massacre of journalists–the biggest collective death of journalists in the world–in the history of journalism.

(And) I think it is very important to remember this incident to make this a message of eradication of impunity. Every time that an act of violence against a journalist remains without investigation, without justice, is the invitation–not for one other act but–for many more to occur.

For me, analyzing violence against journalism, the biggest cause of violence in the world against journalists is impunity. We have to eradicate impunity and I hope Philippines becomes an example of this.

The best for you all.

‘Impunity biggest cause of violence vs journalists’

Ed Lingao Leave a comment

Text by Cong B. Corrales
Interview by Malou Mangahas

EACH UNRESOLVED CASE of violence against journalists is an open invitation for even more violence.

This was the message – and the reminder – of United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression Frank La Rue to the Philippines on the 4th anniversary of the Maguindanao Massacre, where 58 people including 32 mediamen were murdered in November 2009.

La Rue was interviewed by PCIJ Executive Director Malou Mangahas during the Asia Regional Consultation on Freedom of Expression and Civil Liberties in Bangkok last week.

La Rue also expressed his solidarity with Filipino journalists in the fight to end the culture of impunity in the country.

La Rue–who was in Manila for the first anniversary of the Maguindanao Massacre–pointed out the importance of remembering the grisly incident on November 23, four years ago, as a stark example of how impunity threatens the very fabric of democratic ideals.

“I have always been shocked that this is the biggest massacre of journalists–the biggest collective death of journalists in the world–in the history of journalism,” he said.

“I think it is very important to remember this incident to make this a message of eradication of impunity,” La Rue added.

Below is the full transcription of La Rue’s special message:

My name is Frank La Rue and I’m the UN special rapporteur for the freedom of expression around the world. (And) I want to take this opportunity to send a very special message to the people of the Philippines.

First of all, because of the typhoon that affected the Philippines my solidarity and my prayers are with the people of the Philippines at this moment to overcome this huge tragedy, who moved us all in the world.

And secondly, because this is the anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre, I was in Manila for the first anniversary and as special rapporteur on freedom of expression, I have always been shocked that this is the biggest massacre of journalists–the biggest collective death of journalists in the world–in the history of journalism.

(And) I think it is very important to remember this incident to make this a message of eradication of impunity. Every time that an act of violence against a journalist remains without investigation, without justice, is the invitation–not for one other act but–for many more to occur.

For me, analyzing violence against journalism, the biggest cause of violence in the world against journalists is impunity. We have to eradicate impunity and I hope Philippines becomes an example of this.

The best for you all.

Prosecution wraps up in Maguindanao Massacre case

Ed Lingao Leave a comment

ON THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY of the Maguindanao Massacre, government prosecutors say they have already presented to the court all the evidence they need to convict former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his sons for the Maguindanao Massacre.

One hundred ninety seven people, including members of the influential Ampatuan clan and the members of their militia, are facing charges for 58 counts of murder for the deaths of 58 people on November 23, 2009, in what is now known as the Maguindanao Massacre.

Today, November 23, marks the 4th anniversary since the massacre occurred on a remote hillside in Barangay Salman, Ampatuan town in Maguindanao province.

In a meeting with journalists and media groups last week, Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III and state prosecutors involved in the case briefed the newsmen on the progress in the case.

Baraan said that they were confident that the evidence that the prosecution has presented would be more than enough to secure the conviction of Andal Sr., his sons Andal Jr. and Zaldy, and five other Ampatuan clan members.

“The evidence of guilt is enough to convict the principal suspects,” Baraan said.

Trial began in early 2010, with prosecutors presenting 148 witnesses before the court. A key witness included Lakmudin Saliao, a former house help of the Ampatuan family who told the court that he witnessed the clan members planning the murder of Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu when he files his certificate of candidacy for the post of governor of Maguindanao.

In his testimony, Saliao said patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr. asked his sons how they could stop Mangudadatu from filing his candidacy. Saliao said it was Andal Jr. who proposed that Mangudadatu be killed before he files his candidacy. The clan then proceeded to plan how to waylay Mangudadatu’s convoy, Saliao said.

Baraan said the prosecution has already made its formal offer of evidence to Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes. This means that the prosecution has told the judge that it has presented all its evidence, and that it is the turn of the defense to present its case.

Technically, the Maguindanao trial is still in the bail hearings phase, but both the prosecution and defense had earlier agreed to adopt all the evidence and witnesses presented in the bail hearings for the trial proper. This is so that the same evidence does not have to be presented again later on.

Baraan said prosecutors had presented more than 80 percent of their case before the court. Additional evidence will only be presented by prosecutors depending on how the Ampatuan lawyers mount their defense.

“We will not have to call the witnesses who have been presented during the bail hearings,” said Baraan.

With the prosecution ready to rest its case, Baraan said the trial was more than halfway through, almost four years after the first hearing was held in 2010.

Of the 197 accused, only 106 are now now in government custody. Curiously, however, Baraan said he hoped that authorities do not make any more arrests in the immediate future, as this would only further delay the trial.

Baraan said that every time another wanted person is caught by authorities, prosecutors “start all over again” in presenting all the pieces of evidence and the witnesses before the court.

Watch the dialogue with Justice Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III below, as edited by PCIJ Deputy Producer Cong B. Corrales.

Maguindanao, media murder docus on 4th anniv of Maguindanao Massacre

Ed Lingao Leave a comment

IN TEN DAYS, the world again commemorates the Maguindanao Massacre, the single worst case of media murders in the world and the worst case of election violence in the Philippines.

On November 23, 2009, armed men believed to be supporters of the powerful and influential Ampatuan clan murdered 58 people, including 32 journalists, on a remote hillside in Barangay Salman, Ampatuan town. Many of the victims were part of a convoy that was supposed to file the election papers of now Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu, a challenger to the Ampatuan’s hold over the province. The media men were there to cover the event.

Media groups such as the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists have scheduled a variety of activities since the start of the month in order to commemorate the massacre, and remind government of its commitment to find justice for the victims of all media murders.

ANGKAN

On Thursday, November 14, the PCIJ will hold a film showing of its documentary Angkan, Inc., a comprehensive and powerful study of the clans of Maguindanao and how democracy in the province has been overpowered and manipulated by both the clan system and the system of national and local patronage.

The documentary, first aired on TV5′s Balwarte program before the 2013 elections, will be shown at the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communications’ Philippine Star room at 3:30 p.m. This will be followed by a discussion of the major issues raised in the documentary, particularly the continued influence of the political clans, not just in Maguindanao, but in other parts of the country.

There will be screenings of other PCIJ documentaries related to media murders in other schools such as the Centro Escolar University (November 18), UP Los Banos (Nov. 19), University of the East (Nov. 21), and Letran (Nov. 25). The public is invited to attend these free film showings and participate in the discussions.

UPLB

 

Findings and proposals from the PH transparency report

Ed Lingao Leave a comment

THE OPEN GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP (OGP), an international initiative to promote transparency in all countries, released on Thursday a report by its Independent Reporting Mechanism (IRM) on the compliance by the Philippine government of its commitments to improve transparency and accountability in the country.

The IRM is an independent monitoring system developed by the OGP to assess the progress of member-countries in pursuing transparency initiatives. For the Philippines, PCIJ Executive Director Malou Mangahas was chosen as the IRM researcher.

During the formal launch of the report to the public, Mangahas presented both the findings and recommendations developed from a series of meetings and consultations with government representatives and stakeholders, and research and analysis of government documents and websites.

The following is a composite of presentations by Mangahas as well as other stakeholders and reactors during the launch of the OGP-IRM Philippine report in Manila. The video was produced by PCIJ Multimedia deputy producer Cong B. Corrales.