JUST days after the Philippines gained successive honors with Manny Pacquiao’s win over Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas and CNN awarding Efren Peñaflorida as 2009 “Hero of the Year” came another black eye for the country. Some 40 people were massacred in Maguindanao last Monday in the most violent start of an election period in decades.

The killing, an offshoot of the fight for control of Maguindanao by the Ampatuan and Mangudadatu clans, victimized mostly Mangudadatu wives and their supporters, two lawyers and some 30 or so journalists. Those massacred were going to the Maguindanao capital of Shariff Aguak to file the certificate of candidacy of Datu Ismail Mangudadatu.

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Maguindanao is part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao led by Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, son of the clan’s patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr. The patriarch’s other son, Andal Jr., is mayor of Datu Unsay town. Ismail (Toto), vice mayor of Buluan town, has been warned not to run against Andal Jr. for Maguindanao governor next year.

That the Mangudadatu clan decided to have the women file Ismail’s certificate of candidacy and that their convoy included lawyers and journalists meant they already knew the danger of going into Shariff Aguak, reportedly an Ampatuan lair. It turned out that the group was dealing with thugs that have respect neither for the law nor for life.

Reports said that three unidentified journalists were left behind when the group dropped by a hotel in Tacurong City. A hotel staff member later told them that two motorcycle-riding men asked for the whereabouts and names of the journalists covering the filing the certificates of candidacy. The three did not proceed to Shariff Aguak.

One can sense, then, that the massacre was planned. The killing of the journalists and the lawyers who joined the Mangudadatus was meant to ensure that details about the crime and its perpetrators won’t leak. It’s the culture of impunity showing itself once more, fed by the fact that the Arroyo administration has long pampered the Ampatuans.

Which is not surprising because Maguindanao figured prominently in previous elections not only for allegations of fraud but also for giving administration candidates questionable wins.

The Ampatuans delivered the “Hello Garci” tainted votes for President Arroyo in 2004 and a 12-0 result for administration senatorial bets in 2007.

“Never in the history of journalism have the news media suffered a heavy loss of life in one day,” said the international group Reporters Without Borders on the number of our colleagues killed in the incident. “This time, the frenzied violence of thugs working for corrupt politicians has resulted in an incomprehensible bloodbath,” it added.

This, I would say, is therefore one of the blackest moments in Philippine journalism. I am not a member of any media group in Cebu but I expect those who are to prod their organizations to issue statements condemning the dastardly act and calling on the Arroyo administration to bring those responsible, even if they are its allies, to justice.

All of us must act in solidarity with our colleagues in Maguindanao and other election hotspots in Mindanao who now need our support more than ever. It is in these areas where a journalist’s resolve and daring are continuously being tested.

That is why I salute our colleagues there who have persevered through the years despite the dangers.

(khanwens@yahoo.com/ my blog: cebuano.wordpress.com)