The International
Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins the National
Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in calling on the Government of the Philippines to direct its authorities and
security forces to ensure the protection of all involved in legal proceedings
to prosecute suspects accused of the Ampatuan
Town massacre.
The call came as the IFJ and its
affiliate expressed concern about alleged threats against an interpreter and
lawyer who had been assisting in the trial hearings into the massacre in
Maguindanao, Mindanao, on November 23, 2009.
Thirty-two media personnel were
among the 58 people killed. The trials are dealing with 57 counts of murder, as
the body of Reynaldo “Bebot” Momay has not been found.
Rolando Abo, of the National
Commission for Muslim Filipinos, tendered his resignation as interpreter to
Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes on August 1, citing health
reasons, according to the NUJP.
However, media reports say a
principal accused, Andal Ampatuan Sr, allegedly threatened Abo during a trial hearing
on July 28.
Judge Solis-Reyes postponed both
hearings scheduled for last week after Abo was unable to attend due to ill
health.
“Authorities tasked with providing
protection to all involved in the massacre hearings – including witnesses,
lawyers, families of the victims and others – must urgently investigate all
allegations of threats and ensure appropriate security measures are provided to
all those assisting the prosecution of the case,” IFJ
Asia-Pacific said.
The IFJ supports the NUJP’s call for local authorities, especially the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and other
security forces, to act urgently to guarantee the safety of all involved in the
proceedings.
The call follows a report that a
BJMP detachment assigned to the Camp Bagong Diwa detention centre was relieved in
June after prosecution lawyers and the families of the victims complained that
the principal accused, including Ampatuan Sr, had been permitted undue
privileges.
For further
information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific
on +612 9333 0919
The IFJ
represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries
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