1000th day since the Ampatuan Massacre

August 19 will mark the 1000th day since the Ampatuan Massacre. Known as the single most brutal attack against journalists since press freedom was restored in 1986, 58 people, 32 of whom were our colleagues in the media, were waylaid and killed by police and militiamen led by rival Andal Ampatuan Jr.

Click to enlarge to view a list of journalists killed in the massacre

The Ampatuan Massacre alarmed not only the Philippines but also international human rights and press freedom groups. But despite the attention it has received, families of victims of the have yet to find justice.

Of the 196 officials, police and militiamen accused in the case, 96 were arrested, 76 were arraigned, and 100 of them, including some of the Ampatuans primarily accused, have remained at large.

Press freedom advocates and media groups including the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, Philippine Press Institute, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism and networks ABS-CBN and GMA7 will remember the 1000th day of the Ampatuan Massacre on Sunday, Aug. 19, with a vigil at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani, EDSA cor. Quezon Ave., Quezon City.

The vigil aims to remember the fallen victims of the massacre, whose death underscored the dire state of press freedom in the country. It will start at 4:00 pm and will end at 9:00 am of Aug. 20 (Monday).

We encourage you to post blogs or photos over Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr to encourage social media users to not forget the Ampatuan Massacre. You may embed any of the materials below. These include a radio plug with the help of BBDO-Guerrero and a list of journalists killed in the massacre.

“58”, a documentary by Kiri Dalena – 58, Part 1 (A Documentary by Kiri Dalena and Patricia Evangelista)

A documentary aired over ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) on the Nov. 23, 2009 Ampatuan Massacre. Fifty-eight people, including 32 of our colleagues, were brutally killed in the massacre. Special thanks to Kiri Dalena for sharing the video.

“Tutok”, a 45-second Public Service Ad aired in 2010

A montage of the gory massacre juxtaposed with press freedom issues, using a high Phantom High Speed Camera and the Red Camera. This short video jolts the audience into what the core issue is all about of the Ampatuan Massacre.

“Families”, a 30-second ad featuring kin of slain journalists in the Massacre