Well...I am a freelance Spanish journalist and I am in a cage, in north Luzon, Philippines, with no charge at all, "retained" for more than one year... Welcome to the Philippines, the Wild West of Asia.

Your commitment to “keep an international focus on this crisis" is laudable and very much appreciated by the Filipinos. But know that it will be a futile exercise and that Arroyo's government will get away with this as in the past. She is counting on the fact that people have short memories however brutal and barbaric this incident was. The spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines was careful to call it simply an "issue," not a massacre. Arroyo came to full power when she supposedly won the 2004 presidential elections. The family of the prime suspect of this massacre delivered almost 200,000 votes for her at that time. Her closest rival, who is popular in that island, received only 60,000 votes and zero votes in 3 towns. In the 2007 senatorial elections, the same family and province gave the Arroyo ticket a clean sweep victory. 18 other senatorial candidates from the opposition received a ZERO in 20 of the 22 towns of that family's province.

Yes, I totally agree that the Arroyo Administration should take immediate action on this hideous act for humanity. As a filipino, I still don't see any improvement in the Government may it be justice, economy, or basically how the government officials run it. I always hope that there will be an effective leader that will be elected in 6 months time and will bring the Philippines into development and prosperity. It is disappointing that the Philippines have plenty of potentials (such as abundant natural resources, brilliant students and strong values) of becoming a great country, however it is the government that is the hindrance for the country to become great. Corruption is everywhere in the Government, may it be from the local up to the national level. Most people couldn't do anything about it because most of them are afraid to stand up against this tyranny and to be punished for not being obedient to it. I hope that someday the Philippines will be free from this power hungry, corrupt, government.

we've been experiencing this kind of situation here in the Philippines a lot times now. We can't trust our own government anymore. we always rely with our media/journalist for the sake of protection and safety. but now, with this barbaric act done by people hungry for power or people who wants to stay in power, who will be there to protect us, who will be there to teach and guide us and who will be there for our brighter future. even journalist are being harmed now, red cross volunteers are being abducted now, missionaries are also not spared at this forsaken part of our country. i really wish that the next president should come to realize that he is the Hope that we want, the one that will be there to teach us, the one that will be there to guide us, the one that will be there so that this will not happen again for the sake of Filipino Pride and Independence.

We at Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) are shocked and dismayed by the indiscriminate and wanton killing of 18 journalists, among 57 civilians, caught up in the electioneering cross-fire between the feuding political clans. It is outrageous that non-partisan journalists should be thus silenced by villains who thought they could cover up their crimes. But fellow journalists of the fallen 18 have seen to it that their heinous deeds are brought to light. We join our Philippines Press fraternity and the press fraternity worldwide in condemning the massacre and in demanding that the perpetrators be brought to book. We must unite to demand that the Philippines authorities put an end to the culture of impunity and violence against journalists. Federation of Nepali Journalists Media Village, Tilaganga, Kathamndu