MANILA, Philippines – The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) has lined up a number of activities in commemoration of the gruesome Maguindanao media massacre 10 years ago a ranking official of the media organization said Thursday, 24 October 2019.

NUJP deputy secretary-general Raymund Villanueva said one reason behind the month-long commemoration is to once again bring the attention of the public and government to the case.

It may be recalled that on that fateful day of November 23, 2009, at least 58 people perished including 32 Mindanao-based journalists and media workers that has come to be known as Maguindanao Massacre.

One of NUJP’s activities Villanueva said is to make an appeal for radio and television stations to observe total silence for 58 seconds in honor of the victims on that day, November 23, 2019.

“Kung walang hustisya sa mga biktima na ito, pwede nang walain ang mass media. Wala na tayong mapapanood sa telebisyon. Kaya yung 58 segundong pananahimik sa November 23 ay isang simbolo na kailangang kailangan natin ang kalayaan sa pamamahayag,” Villanueva said.

A protest rally in Mediola is also on the agenda to happen on that day along with an unveiling of a Press Freedom Mural at the Mehan Garden in Manila.

Tuesday night, students and media practitioners already collectively lit up 58 candles that signaled the month-long observance of what could be the most gruesome media killing to ever happen in Philippine history.

Villanueva added the NUJP is also expected to partner with Student media organizations to organize a forum about the massacre and its implications in society among colleges and universities nationwide.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has described the Maguindanao Massacre as the single deadliest event for mediamen since the organization kept record in 1992. (Jimmy Carbo/BCuaresma/CNS)