Last Monday, November 23, a group of Muslim women escorted by a group of journalists were massacred in Maguindanao, reportedly the third poorest province in the Philippines. The Muslim women were supposed to go to a Comelec Office there to file the certificate of candidacy of Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu who is running for a gubernatorial seat in the province. The alleged perpetrators of the heinous crime are the armed followers of the Ampatuans, the present ruling clan in Maguindanao. If the Ampatuans have something to do with the massacre or not, only God can tell.



Shocking as it is, I can't help but wonder on the implications of this horrendous act against press freedom in general and in the May 2010 Presidential Elections in particular. You see, journalists getting killed has been a common scenario in this country for the past five years or so. If this continues, what will happen to our democracy?

My youngest sister who is in her final year in high school, upon hearing about the Maguindanao Massacre, has decided not to take journalism/mass com in college anymore. She's now scared to become a journalist, a dream that used to be at the core of her being. I can't blame her, though. I believe she can still contribute to society through other means, through other professions.

This tale of a Maguindanao massacre survivor will give you a clear idea of how and why the tragic incident had transpired. It's saddening and empowering at the same time. I admire the courage of Filipino journalists. If not for them, we wouldn't be as well-informed and updated about current events and pressing issues as we are today. If not for them, ours would have been a chaotic and unjust society.

Here's hoping that justice will be served to Maguindanao massacre victims as swiftly as possible.


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