DAVAO CITY (November 23) –As the nation commemorates the Maguindanao Massacre today, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS) reaffirmed its solidarity with the victims’ families and the Philippine media community, reminding the public that justice remains unfinished 16 years after the country’s deadliest election-related killing.
On November 23, 2009, 58 people including 32 journalists and media workers — were brutally murdered in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao province. The victims were part of a convoy on their way to the Commission on Elections to file the gubernatorial candidacy of then–Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, challenging the powerful Ampatuan clan.
The convoy was stopped, abducted, and executed, with bodies and vehicles later found buried in hastily dug pits. The massacre shocked the world, becoming the single deadliest attack on journalists in history and a symbol of political warlordism and impunity in the Philippines.
“This is not just an annual remembrance , it is a continuing demand for accountability,” PTFOMS said, honoring the lives lost and the journalists who were simply doing their job: seeking truth and reporting it.
In December 2019, after a decade-long trial, a Quezon City court convicted several principal suspects, including members of the Ampatuan family, for multiple counts of murder. The ruling was hailed as a landmark victory for press freedom and the rule of law. But appeals and legal challenges continue, and several accused individuals remain at large — prolonging the fight for full justice.
PTFOMS emphasized that while progress has been made, the struggle is far from over.
“We recognize the ongoing demand for justice across our nation, especially from the families who have suffered for years. We remain committed to protecting media workers and ensuring justice for all victims of media-related violence,” the task force said.
The Mindanao Independent Press Council President Inc.(MIPC) Editha Caduaya also urged journalists and media institutions to honor the victims by continuing to defend ethical and safe journalism.
“As we commemorate the bloody incident today, let us remember that no coverage is worth a life, while we continue to seek justice for our fallen colleagues,” the council said.
Media organizations, press freedom advocates, survivors, and families of victims are holding commemorative activities nationwide — not only to mourn, but to remind the country that impunity must never be normalized.
Sixteen years later, the call remains clear: safeguard journalists, dismantle political violence, strengthen the justice system, and ensure that such a tragedy never happens again.
“Let the memory of our fallen colleagues — their courage and dedication — strengthen our collective resolve,” PTFOMS said. “May their souls rest in peace, and may justice ultimately prevail.”-Althea Beatrice C. Felizarta
