THE National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) demands justice for our colleagues and all the other victims of the Nov. 23 carnage in Maguindanao province.

The massacre, which the military has confirmed, was allegedly perpetrated by Shariff Aguak Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. and police Chief Inspector Sukarno Dicay. This goes beyond the issue of freedoms of the press and expression and strikes at the very foundations of democracy.

Aside from the wife, relatives and supporters of Esmael Mangudadatu, who were on their way to file his certificate of candidacy to run as governor of Maguindanao, the slaughter also claimed the lives of at least 25 colleagues, according to reports from our chapters in Mindanao.

This incident not only erases all doubts about the Philippines being the most dangerous country for journalists, outside of Iraq, it could very well place the country on the map as a candidate for a failed democracy.

Running for office and voting are as much exercises of free will and expression as covering and reporting the news.

We expect nothing less from this government than the swift apprehension and punishment of everyone involved in this gruesome assault on the national body politic, including the masterminds, regardless of who they might be.

Anything less would mean that the impunity that has emboldened those who would silence the press, staining the Arroyo administration’s watch with the record of having the most number of murdered journalists, has spread to embolden those who would subvert our democracy for their own selfish interests.

—NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES, www.nujp.org, 105-A Scout Castor Street (near Morato Avenue), Quezon City