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Filipino Impunity to Massacre

The massacre of civilians and journalists that occurred on Monday in the Philippines is a shocking symptom of the country's climate of impunity and the government's inability to protect freedom of expression, Freedom House said today. The organization condemned the killings in the strongest terms possible.

In some of the worst violence in recent Filipino history, almost 60 people, including at least 26 journalists, were killed and buried in shallow graves in the province of Maguindanao. The victims were accompanying supporters of a gubernatorial candidate as he filed nomination papers for elections scheduled to be held in May 2010.

"These killings are of the most shocking and brutal nature and must be addressed immediately and thoroughly by the government," said Jennifer Windsor, Freedom House's executive director. "The country is becoming known for a culture of impunity and the government has a responsibility to demonstrate a commitment to reversing this trend."

The gubernatorial candidate, Ismael Mangudadatu, had received death threats as a result of challenging the rule of the long-term regional leader, Andal Ampatuan, Jr. As in other regions of the Philippines, local "bosses" control many areas in Maguindanao, one of the poorest areas of the country, limiting accountability and encouraging abuses of power.

During the past several years, Freedom House has noted significant declines in the Philippines, both in terms of freedom of expression, as well as in political rights resulting from electoral fraud, corruption, and government intimidation of political opposition. Killings of journalists, human rights defenders, and other activists have increased dramatically, and in the majority of cases, these crimes have gone unpunished.

The central government, which has close ties to the Ampatuan family, has imposed a state of emergency in two provinces and has promised to investigate the killings.

"The foundations of a strong and healthy democracy are under grave threat," Windsor noted. "As the country heads toward another election season, it is vitally important that the government demonstrate that it is willing and able to do everything in its power to bring the perpetrators of the recent carnage to justice as quickly and effectively as possible."

The Philippines is ranked Partly Free in both the 2009 editions of Freedom in the World, Freedom House's annual survey of political rights and civil liberties, and Freedom of the Press, Freedom House's annual survey of media independence.

For more information on the Philippines, visit:

Freedom in the World 2009: The Philippines

Freedom of the Press 2009: The Philippines

Freedom House, an independent nongovernmental organization that supports the expansion of freedom in the world, has been monitoring political rights and civil liberties in the Philippines since 1972.

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