Maguindanao Chronicles « Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

Lost in Translation

by Justine Espina-Letargo

THE prosecution considers his testimony crucial to its case against Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., who stands accused in the November 23 mass murder of 57 people in Maguindanao. But Ampatuan town Vice Mayor Rasul Sangki’s words were almost lost in translation as the interpreter appointed by the court struggled to keep up with his testimony, which he gave in a mixture of Filipino and Maguindanaoan.

Read more... | Posted Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

All calm, resolute on day one of hearing of bail petition

by Justine Espina-Letargo

From Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes, to the lawyers of both the prosecution and the defense panels, down to the relatives of the victims of the November 23 massacre, all appeared resolute on the first day of what is expected to be a long, drawn-out trial of Mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr. who currently faces 41 counts of murder. Save for the sound of cameras clicking, there was no noticeable tumult from the other side of the court, where several relatives of the massacre victims were seated as Ampatuan, clad in a red striped, short-sleeved shirt and denims entered the converted courtroom in PNP headquarters in Quezon City.

Read more... | Posted Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Photo Gallery

40th day commemoration

by Ed Lingao

Read more... | Posted Monday, January 11th, 2010

‘Kung may mawala, may papalit’

JUST a few weeks after the Maguindanao massacre, thin and frail-looking Margie Pusanso came knocking on the door of Freddie Solinap, publisher of the Koronadal-based weekly Periodico Ini, to ask for her old job back.

Margie had worked briefly as a part-time reporter, before leaving for what she thought were greener pastures as a call center agent. But now, Margie wanted back in.

Read more... | Posted Monday, January 11th, 2010

Video

Journalists cry out for justice

by Ed Lingao

Journalists, media workers, and activists march to Mendiola to demand justice for colleagues slain in the Maguindanao Massacre. Read the story.

Read more... | Posted Thursday, December 10th, 2009

PHOTO GALLERY

Journalists turn rallyists for Maguindanao massacre victims

by Karol Ilagan

ON the eve of the observance of International Human Rights Day (December 10), journalists and media workers took to the streets in Mendiola, a stone’s throw from the seat of political power that is Malacanang Palace, in rage and grief. Their common call: Justice for the 57 victims of the November 23 Maguindanao Massacre, that [...]

Read more... | Posted Thursday, December 10th, 2009

Report of the Humanitarian
and Fact-Finding Mission
to Maguindanao

A report by the fact-finding team organized by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) for the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists (FFFJ) on the killing of at least 30 journalists/media practitioners in the Maguindanao massacre.

The team was composed of representatives from the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), the Davao-based news organization MindaNews, the PCIJ, the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) and the FFFJ.

Read more... | Posted Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

PHOTO GALLERY

The Massacre in Ampatuan, Maguindanao

Please be warned of the graphic nature of these photographs. All photos were taken from the Commission on Human Rights.

Read more... | Posted Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

The Maguindanao Massacre,
the Bangsamoro Problem
and the Peace Process

by Soliman M. Santos, Jr.

As a peace advocate who has considered Muslim Mindanao as my second region (after Bicol), I join so many others in their shock at and condemnation of what is now called the Maguindanao Massacre of 23 November 2009, likewise in expressing sympathies for the close relatives and friends of those who were killed, especially two fellow human rights lawyers, and calling for speedy justice and other necessary measures of redress and reform. There will never be enough words to describe this almost unbelievably depraved and inhuman incident.

Read more... | Posted Monday, November 30th, 2009

FFFJ Mission

The 30 Media Martyrs
of Maguindanao

by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism

THERE WERE 30 and not just 27 reporters and media workers who were killed in a manner brutal beyond description in Maguindanao, last Monday November 23.

The 30 media workers comprise more than half of the 57 confirmed casualties of what is now known as the Maguindanao Massacre, according to a list compiled and verified by the Humanitarian and Fact-Finding Mission of the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists (FFFJ), a network of independent media organizations, including the PCIJ.

Read more... | Posted Sunday, November 29th, 2009

Maguindanao Chronicles