Sixteen years after the Maguindanao massacre, where 58 people, including 32 journalists, were killed in the worst election-related violence in Philippine history, the victims’ families and the media continue to struggle for justice.
The nonprofit Center for International Law (CenterLaw) said it would file an urgent motion before the Court of Appeals (CA) to resolve the pending appeals in the massacre cases and to judicially recognize journalist Reynaldo Momay as the 58th victim.
In separate statements on Sunday, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS) expressed support for the families seeking resolution of the pending appeals, including the recognition of Momay and the damages sought by his heirs.
‘We recognize the ongoing demand for justice across our nation, especially from the families who have endured years of suffering. This is not only a call for retribution but a demand for accountability, an end to impunity, and assurance that such an incident will not happen again,’ PTFOMS said.
As an office under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., PTFOMS pledged to work with all stakeholders to ensure due process and pursue accountability for those responsible.
‘Let the memory of our fallen colleagues – their courage and dedication – strengthen our collective resolve,’ said the office, now headed by Jose Torres Jr., former director general of the Philippine Information Agency.
‘We reaffirm our commitment to creating a safe environment for all media practitioners, upholding the rule of law, and defending the right to a free press,’ it added.
The PTFOMS said it remained committed to protecting media workers and ensuring justice for victims of media-related violence.
No changes
NUJP, however, noted that many of the conditions faced by journalists in 2009 remain.
‘Dynasties remain entrenched in power, and because of economic realities, media workers continue to be at risk of being caught in political rivalries,’ it said.
The group also urged newsrooms and media organizations to strengthen safety protocols, uphold editorial independence, and ensure employees receive a living wage – particularly those outside Metro Manila who remain ‘the worst paid and least protected’ in the industry.
Five journalists have been killed since Marcos took office in 2022 – lower than the 23 killed during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
In 2024, no Filipino journalist was murdered for their work for the first time in more than two decades, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The case of former radio anchor Ma. Vilma Rodriguez on October 22, 2024, was not officially classified as work-related.
Reporters Without Borders ranked the Philippines 116th out of 180 countries in its 2025 press freedom index, an improvement of 18 places from 2023.
The Marcos administration attributed the improved ranking to the state of press freedom in the country.
Media attacks up
Despite the improved rankings, media watchdogs reported an increase in attacks against journalists under the current administration.
From July 2022 to April 2025, NUJP and the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) recorded 184 cases of red-tagging, surveillance, legal intimidation, online harassment, and other attacks – a 44 percent increase compared to Duterte’s six-year term.
Since 1986, when the restoration of democratic institutions reopened space for press freedom, more than 170 journalists have been killed in the Philippines.
Of these cases, only 50 convictions have been secured; 31 were connected to the Maguindanao massacre, according to CMFR.
Of the 93 cases that reached the courts, 39 were dismissed, 36 ended in acquittals, and nine were archived.
The low number of cases reaching trial and the limited convictions remain ‘clear signals of an enduring culture of impunity.’