MEDIA ADVISORY
November 20, 2014

UP CMC denounces impunity with red candles on Friday

The University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication (UP CMC) takes a stand against all forms of impunity on November 21 (Friday), 2:30 p.m. as it holds a commemoration activity at the Freedom of Information (FOI) garden inside Plaridel Hall, UP Diliman.

Aside from short speeches of selected students, faculty and administrators, the commemoration will be highlighted by the lighting of 58 red candles near a make-shift coffin. The candles represent the 58 people (including 32 journalists and media workers) who were killed in Ampatuan massacre on November 23, 2009 while the color red represents rage resulting from various forms of impunity like the Hacienda Luisita massacre ten years ago, the murder of Jennifer Laude (whose 40th day happened on November 20) and the unabated killings of journalists.

Data from the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) show that 25 journalists have been killed since Noynoy Aquino became President, or an average of six journalists yearly. This has led concerned groups under the End Impunity Alliance (EIA) and AlterMidya to brand Aquino as the “Impunity King.”

UP CMC, together with EIA and AlterMidya, will march around the UP Academic Oval at around 5 p.m. and then proceed to Philcoa where another candle-lighting activity will be done.

Photo opportunities and media interviews are available. Media coverage is requested.

For reference, please call UP CMC Associate Dean Danilo Arao at (0908) 866-2726.