The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) calls on journalists and other individuals to wear black tomorrow (April 25) to, quoting from its emailed flyer, “express solidarity with journalists in Quezon who will be holding a march-rally.”

The planned mass action has to do with the murder of Mark Palacios of Radyo ng Bayan-Nueva Ecija last April 18, the attack against Philippine Daily Inquirer correspondent Delfin Mallari and DZMM correspondent Johnny Glorioso on April 19, the arrest of radio broadcaster Jun Alegre of dzRH in Legazpi, Albay on April 18 and filing of libel charge against Cebu’s broadcaster and columnist Leo Lastimosa.

These all prove that press is still under siege, hence the need for journalists and those who value press freedom to show their collective outrage.

Blogger Jim Caro had an interesting post on Delfin “Jun” Mallari as a journalist, and he even asked me if the person beside me in an old 2004 photo at a rally in Camp Crame is Jun. (Jim, I remember now: It is really Jun Mallari!)

Looking at this old photograph again (see below), Jim is right in highlighting the irony that Ka Jun became a victim five days ago of the attacks on press freedom that he denounced almost three years ago. Ka Jun, after all, was literally attacked as the perpetrators tried to kill him.

That’s me with Jun Mallari (2nd from left) at an August 16, 2004 rally in Camp Crame
to denounce attacks on press freedom, particularly the killing of journalists.

I thank Jim for indirectly reminding me that, indeed, the killings and other forms of human rights violation have become so rampant that some of us can actually cite direct dealings with the victims.

Up to now, I still cannot look at the photographs of slain journalists Beng Hernandez and Edgar Damalerio without feeling depressed, as well as those of murdered activists Eden Marcellana and Eddie Gumanoy. The reason for my depression is simple: I’ve dealt with them in the past either as a journalist or educator.

I can personally attest to their dedication in their chosen line of work, and it is unfortunate that in the eyes of the perpetrators, they mattered enough to be silenced forever.

So please wear black tomorrow if only to show not just our collective grief but also our collective outrage.