The International Federation of Journalists has called for the international community to intervene and demanded a full investigation after what it has described as the single biggest massacre of working journalists in recent history.
The IFJ reports that twelve journalists were among those murdered when a political convoy of over 36 people was ambushed and slaughtered by gunmen in the Maguindanao province of Southern Philippines.
“This is an event which shocks journalists around the world to the core,” said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. “We need a strong and urgent response from the Philippine government and the international community.”
The convoy was led by Genalyn Tiamzon-Mangudadatu, who was on her way to file her husband’s nomination as a candidate in the election for governor of Maguindanao province.
The convoy was ambushed on Monday morning by around 100 armed men, who took them to a remote location before massacring them all, according to the IFJ and other reports.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) is saying that at least 12 journalists are among the dead.
The IFJ said: “This is the darkest day in the history of journalism in the Philippines, which, outside of Iraq, has topped the tables of countries where journalists are most at risk in recent years.”
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