Press freedom groups hit lax treatment of Maguindanao massacre suspects

BAGUIO CITY , Philippines  – Press freedom groups, including the New York-based Committee To Protect Journalists (CPJ), are questioning why 100 gunmen in the Maguindanao massacre last Nov. 23 remain at large.

Shawn Crispin, CPJ Southeast Asia representative, urged international groups to closely monitor the investigation and court proceedings of the case.

Crispin presented a 32-page in-depth report highlighting “the inability and unwillingness of the state to ensure the protection and safety of journalists who are seeking to perform their duties.”

An international mission last Dec. 5-10 visited the site of the massacre where at least 30 newsmen were killed.

A statement by the International Federation of Journalists said “this massacre, coming at the very beginning of the 2010 election process, not only undermines that process but has dealt a cruel blow to democracy and free media in the Philippines.”

The mission met with the victims’ family members, local journalists, prosecutors, diplomats, and government officials.

A joint report, “Massacre in the Philippines: International Solidarity Mission Rapid Assessment,” builds on the initial findings of four local groups which conducted an on-the-ground investigation immediately after the massacre.

The report findings included a detailed timeline of events on the day of the massacre and an account by a journalist who turned back from the convoy.

The joint mission report, said Crispin, “also raises concerns about the government’s handling of forensic evidence at the massacre site and cites fears that the legal proceedings will be compromised in light of President Arroyo’s political ties to the Ampatuan clan.”

Underscoring concerns of a possible whitewash, the CPJ Southeast Asia said the report highlights the role of Maj. Gen. Alfredo Cayton, commander of the 6th Infantry Division in Maguindanao province, at the time of the massacre.

“A local journalist had requested that the military provide security for the convoy, a request that Cayton denied.”  

Cayton was relieved of duty in the aftermath of the massacre, but was later promoted vice commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the report said.

“As the media spotlight fades, it’s essential the international community maintain pressure on the administration of President Arroyo and that of her successor to ensure that justice is served,” Crispin said.   – Artemio Dumlao