AHRC-ART-065-2009 
November 30, 2009

An Article by the Asian Human Rights Commission

PHILIPPINES: Who were the massacred journalists? - Part 1

One of the journalists worked for over two decades 

Before the advent of electronic mail, high speed internet connections, and mobile phones, all part of the technology used in transmitting information that we now take for granted, Alejandro Reblando, Bong, to his friends and colleagues, was an eyewitness to what was happening in Mindanao. Indeed, he was not just an eyewitness but was very much a part of the stories he reported on. For two decades Bong Reblando collected exclusive stories and fearlessly reported on them in the worst of conditions. Alejandro Bong Reblando was one of the 30 journalists slaughtered in the Maguindanao massacre on November 23.

In this photo:  Manila Bulletin (MB) reporter Bong M. Reblando (2nd from left) smiles in this undated file photo taken during a past Saudi Arabian national day celebration in Makati City/ from the Manila Bulletin

Fifty-four-year-old Bong Reblando was no neophyte. At the time of his death, he was writing for the Manila Bulletin, a national daily newspaper. He spent many years writing for them as a correspondent before they absorbed him as regular staff in 2008 based in General Santos City. 

He began his professional career in the early 1980s as a broadcaster and reporter for dxCP, a Catholic-run radio station in General Santos City. In those days, only a few local radio stations were broadcasting. dxCP was once one of the more popular radio stations. It was where the residents turned for news and current affairs, not only within the city but also in neighbouring provinces and municipalities of South Cotabato. 

Bong Reblando knew the very fabric of the inside stories and how violent it could get covering local elections. He was a stringer for the Associated Press (AP), an American news agency, from late 1980s to early the 2000s covering the southern Philippines. He also wrote for and edited stories for numerous community newspapers in General Santos City, one of which was the Mindanao Bulletin that began publication in 1985. 

In this country's troubled region, it was very easy for journalists like Bong and his colleagues to become desensitized in covering the often violent stories from the conflict areas. Their compassion and commitment to their work dictated that they had to be not just onlookers but actually part of the story. These were the types of stories and places that they had to cover and they never shirked the responsibility. They received satisfaction, not only from reporting the news, but by having the authority of saying: I was there! 

Bong Reblando was a veteran and had personal experience of covering election-related violence. He had also covered the protracted war in conflict affected areas in Mindanao, numerous kidnapping cases and bomb blasts. 

With their years of experience Bong and his group did not take lightly the potential danger of reporting on the November 23 would-be filing of the Certificate of Candidacy (CoC) by the wife of a local politician, Ismael Mangudadatu in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao. They discussed thoroughly the security arrangements and only after they got the assurance from a local top military commander that it was safe for them to go did they proceed. 

Amongst his contemporaries, Alejandro Bong Reblando was known for never running out of steam when working in the field and writing exclusive stories, both for the Filipino people and the world. 

To see one’s name in a newspaper headline is, perhaps petty to others, but it is what motivates the local journalist to do well in their profession. Bong Reblando surpassed many of his contemporaries, who either relocated to other places or retired. 

'He told me the area is cleared' 

It was Bong who spoke with Alfredo Cayton, commanding General of the Army's 6th Infantry Division (ID), asking his opinion as to whether it was safe for the group to proceed. Cayton told him that they could and the area where their convoy would be passing through has been cleared of any possible danger. This is what Bong told a colleague who survived the massacre. 

According to his newspaper, Bong considered Cayton as his friend. In this part of the country journalists have to befriend top military and police commanders, not only to establish good working relationships and as sources of news, but also as a form of protection. However, when it comes to reporting on military personnel, police officers and government officials who are abusive and corrupt these journalists will not hesitate to burn their bridges. 

Bong Reblando’s body was found hog-tied inside the vehicle of Henry Araneta, a reporter for dzRH radio, who was also killed during the massacre. Bong was killed by a shotgun blast and his body was among the most badly mutilated corpses. 

Covering violence: elections, kidnappings and bomb blasts 

In 1995, during the election for mayor in Palembang, Sultan Kudarat, about two hours from General Santos City, Bong Reblando and another colleague (who survived the Maguindanao massacre), had to stay there for a week to cover a brewing confrontation between two powerful and bitter rival clans in local politics. At that time hardly any journalist covered election violence in the area of southern Mindanao. 

Bong’s wife, Myrna, had to travel to Palembang to take him back to the city with her. His relatives and his colleagues were worried because they had no idea of what had happened to them. The two could not be contacted as there were no mobile phones in those days. 

In 2001, Reblando made extensive coverage of the kidnapping of Chinese engineers in Carmen, North Cotabato. While one kidnap victim was later released, two of his companions were killed by the abductors. The kidnapping was a huge story as it involved the diplomatic relationship between China and the Philippines. Reblando was one of those who produced a blow by blow account of the kidnapping case. 

For most of his adult and professional life, Reblando covered the decades-old conflict in Mindanao. The protracted war between the Moro rebels and the government forces, the frequent bombings, hostage-taking, and the like. They were all stories that could not escape from his notice. 

From phone lines to computers 

In those days to be able to send their stories to their outlets in Manila, Bong Reblando had to dictate his story, written at the end of the day’s work, by phone from a local telecommunications office to the news desk. There were many times when he and his fellow local journalists were crowding the office, each waiting for their turn at the telephone. 

It was only after the fax messaging technology was introduced that Bong Reblando and his colleagues began sending their stories in writing. Instead of making phone calls, they started making use of typewriters to type their stories and then send them by fax. This is how his employers at the Manila Bulletin and the intentional wire agencies to whom he was sending stories receive his work. 

Some of the stories that Bong wrote may still be read online. 

Alejandro Bong Reblando is survived by his wife, Myrna and seven children. 
 

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About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna—A labor leader in Cavite was able to survive two consecutive attempts on his life but failed the third time, when three to five men shot him several times Monday morning in Imus, Cavite.

Gerry Cristobal, 39, former union president of the Japanese semiconductor firm Emi-Yazaki and an official of the Solidarity of Cavite Workers (SCW), was killed in what police said was a traffic altercation in Imus town, Cavite.

Senior Supt. Fidel Posadas, Cavite provincial police director, told the the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net) that Cristobal was shot several times near a gasoline station on Aguinaldo Highway in Barangay (village) Anabu I-B in Imus at about 7:30 a.m.

On April 28, 2006, Cristobal was shot and seriously wounded by SPO1 Romeo Lara of the intelligence division of the Imus police station.

Lara, who was also wounded during that incident, denied that he intended to kill Cristobal and said it was actually Cristobal who tried to kill him.

After 10 months, on Feb. 9, 2007, Cristobal escaped unhurt when two motorcycle-riding men fired three shots at him.

Supt. Ulysses Cruz, Imus police chief, said it was not an ambush.

"When you say it's an ambush, the gunmen are waiting in a place to shoot the victim," he added.

Cruz said that according to witnesses, the assailants on board a green Toyota Innova vehicle seemed to be chasing the Mitsubishi Lancer "box-type" car of Cristobal before the shooting.

He said they were not sure if he was able to shoot back.

The police found a 9-mm pistol in Cristobal's car while the assailants allegedly used M14 rifles.

Ramil Tined, president of the union Samahan ng Manggagawa ng Emi Independent, said it was highly probable that the other two incidents were related to this one.

"We believe it was not just a road fight," he said, adding that the neighbors of Cristobal said they had seen a vehicle similar to the one used by the gunmen parked near his house several times.

"Imposibleng traffic lang 'yun. May dalang mahaba. Target talaga siya (It was impossible that the reason was just a traffic altercation. The gunmen used long firearms. Surely, he was a target)," Tined said.

Nora Tiloy, former coworker of Cristobal at Emi-Yazaki, said she was both sad and angry.

"Pinapatay na nila ang hanay naming para siguro matakot kami [They are already killing people in our ranks, perhaps to scare us]," she said.

Two years ago, their comrade Jesus Buth Servida, the former vice-president of the union in Emi-Yazaki, was killed by a lone gunman in front of the gate of the semiconductor factory in Imus, Cavite.

Servida was the former vice president of the Samahang Manggagawa sa Emi-Yazaki (SME) and one of the leaders of the SCW.

Like him, Cristobal remained active in labor organizing in Cavite.

An alliance for the immediate release of Anakpawis Representative Crispin B. Beltran, true leader of the Filipino people

PRESS RELEASE
August 25, 2006

The people's movement will release Ka Bel "End Beltran's six months illegal imprisonment, jail Arroyo instead for her crimes against Filipinos"

Marking the sixth month of Rep. Crispin Beltran's illegal detention, the Free Ka Bel Movement (FKBM) together with Anakpawis Party List led a protest rally of labor unions, progressive organizations and thousands of Beltran's supporters to demand the legislator's immediate release. "We demand an end to Beltran's six months illegal imprisonment. We want Arroyo out Malacanang and thrown into jail for her crimes against Filipinos, said FKBM Spokesperson Dennis Maga."

BY THE COUNSELS FOR THE DEFENSE OF LIBERTIES
Posted by Bulatlat
Posted 4:03 p.m., Aug. 21, 2006 

CODAL finds unacceptable Pres. Arroyo’s creation of a probe body to investigate political killings without any consultation from the victims and the human rights sector to assure the public that the body is genuinely independent.   Although we have condemned Pres. Arroyo, the PNP, the AFP and the DOJ for their silence and inaction in the past five years while the killings were going on, we would have welcomed Pres. Arroyo’s attempt for the creation of a probe body if it is genuinely independent, effective and credible because it is transparent and consultative. Even if CODAL finds it encouraging that the President has essentially abandoned Task Force Usig as it has failed to gain any credibility from the victims and the public, it is condemnable that another body is created without putting up mechanisms that will ensure its independence, credibility and effectiveness, thereby condemning that body to the same fate as TF Usig.

Inquirer
Last updated 01:33am (Mla time) 08/23/2006
Published on Page A10 of the August 23, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's decision -- after international pressure made it impossible to continue stonewalling local demands for action -- to appoint an investigative commission made the news around the world. Her decision shows that the issue of human rights cannot just be set aside so that the country can "move on." So now, the country awaits what the commission tasked to investigate political murders will do.

While the National Democratic Front has criticized the appointment of retired Supreme Court Justice Jose Melo and others, on the basis of the members' not being known for their advocacy of human rights, at least the President didn't appoint individuals known for their hostility to human rights. Melo's reputation, too, despite his having worked for the late President Diosdado Macapagal, hasn't sparked the same derision that President Ferdinand Marcos' appointment of Chief Justice Enrique Fernando did in the wake of Ninoy Aquino's assassination.

By Amando Doronila
Inquirer
Last updated 00:38am (Mla time) 08/23/2006
Published on Page A11 of the August 23, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration has launched a spurious peace offensive to blunt mounting international pressure to stem the wave of extrajudicial killings, which has claimed the lives of at least 114 political activists since 2001, by creating an "independent" commission of inquiry into the executions headed by former Supreme Court Justice Jose Melo.

President Arroyo said she created the commission to demonstrate "my determination to stop extrajudicial killings." The commission would be "powerful, credible and fully independent, setting its own rules and timetable," she added.