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Welcome to The Foreign Correspondents' Club, Hong Kong on . Local Time . |
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Award a win for all the Philippines |
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The Correspondent magazine, January-February 2010, p.13 |
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In naming The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism as the recipient of this year’s Kate Webb Award, Agence France-Presse has thrown a spotlight on a corner of the earth where being a reporter is just as deadly as it is in Afghanistan and Iraq, writes Luke Hunt. |
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The Philippines’ extraordinary press corps rarely flinches.
“Investigative journalism is very important in the Philippines,” said veteran reporter Al Jacinto. “Corruption in the government and wrongdoings of government officials are most of the topics that Filipinos read.”
Jacinto’s family publishes the Mindanao Examiner where he is part businessman, reporter and editor and he knows only too well the perils in reporting from the Philippines’ troubled south.
The killing of 31 journalists which has been linked by authorities to the Ampatuan clan, a political ally of President Gloria Arroyo, remains by far the biggest issue in the Philippines, particularly in the lead-up to the May 10 elections.
Jacinto said the single biggest massacre of journalists in history came as an enormous shock that went far beyond anyone’s expectations.
“I have friends who were brutally killed,” he told The Correspondent.
“When news broke out about the massacre, I was holding back my tears as I was interviewing the regional army spokesman in central Mindanao.
“We live in a small world in the Philippines - anything bad that happens to a journalist is one deadly stab in our heart. We are journalists, we are only messengers of truth,” he added.
Andal Junior is the scion of the powerful Ampatuan family and the alleged mastermind of the November 23 massacre of 57 people, including journalists and supporters of a political rival, in the southern province of Maguindanao on Mindanao.
His father, Maguindanao Governor at the time of the murders, Andal Ampatuan Senior, has also been implicated along with two other siblings.
In praising the PCIJ, Jacinto said the Philippines needed more media outlets that focused on investigative journalism.
He also said the resolve of those already in the business would be sorely tested as they focused their attention on “the unbelievable wealth of the Ampatuan clan”, Arroyo, her husband and the rest of the family ahead of elections.
“Filipinos get a glimpse of all this, thanks to investigative journalists - but the threats to the people working on these issues are also great.”
He was particularly saddened by the death of photojournalist Gene Boyd Lumawag in 2004. Twenty-six-year-old Lumawag was on assignment in Jolo where he had just taken some shots of a sunset at the local pier. On the way back to his hotel he was approached by gunmen and shot in the head.
Jacinto said his friend was shot by the Abu Sayyaf, probably on the orders of somebody who did not appreciate Lumawag’s research into corruption. Four years later an unidentified gunman opened fire on the offices of the Mindanao Examiner in Zamboanga City for the same reason.
With so much horror in the job, Jacinto leaves no doubt where he stands.
“They should have put those who are involved in the brutal killings to death as well.”
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September 4 & 5, Sports on TV
September 2-3, Bert's Schedule
August 30 - September 3, Daily Lunch Specials
October 9, 9th Annual Charity Ball 2010
New Zealand Hunter’s Wine Home Delivery
September 22, Club Lunch: Fat China: Expanding Waistlines Change a Nation
September 13-18, Lebanese Food & Wine Promotion
September 13, Club Lunch: Threat of Islamic Fundamentalism to Asia
September 6-10, Daily Lunch Specials
September 7-10, Bert's Schedule
September 9, Johnnie Walker Whisky Dinner
September 6, Book Fair
Wall Exhibition: Man and Shark by Paul Hilton and Alex Hofford
FCC Special Promotion for New Correspondent and Journalist Members
Late Lunch Promotion
FCC Label Wine "Correspondents' Choice"
FCC Gratuity Fee
FCC 2010/2011 Board Election
Nancy Kwan: My life before and after Suzie Wong
Kung Hei Kung Hei!
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