EPCC NEWS

January 20, 2010

Official media death count in Ampatuan massacre is now 32

Los Angeles- EPCC NEWS learned today through Manila media sources that the The number of media workers killed in the massacre in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao province almost two months ago now stands at 32.

This with the inclusion of a community newspaper’s staff photographer who was previously unaccounted for, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said Wednesday.

Jepon Cadagdagon, 28, was included in the list of media workers killed in the massacre last November 23 after the NUJP confirmed that he was a newly-hired staff photographer of the newspaper, Saksi News, published in General Santos City.

Cadagdagon was previously identified as a driver of a van included in the ill-fated convoy on its way to file Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu’s certificate of candidacy for governor of Maguindanao.

Despite the updated figure, only 31 bodies of media workers have been recovered so far. The remains of Reynaldo “Bebot" Momay, a photographer of Midland Review in Tacurong City, have yet to be recovered, although a set of dentures identified as his was found at the gravesite.

Media Martyrs

Below is the NUJP’s complete list of the 32 media workers killed in the massacre, which has been called the “worst loss of life in a day in the history of journalism" by media organizations worldwide (surname first, followed by given name, media outfit, and city):

1. Adolfo, Benjie - Gold Star Daily, Koronadal City

2. Araneta, Henry - Radio DZRH, General Santos City

3. Arriola, Mark Gilbert “Mac-Mac" - UNTV, General Santos City

4. Bataluna, Rubello - Gold Star Daily, Koronadal City

5. Betia, Arturo - Periodico Ini, General Santos City

6. Cabillo, Romeo Jimmy - Midland Review, Tacurong City

7. Cablitas, Marites - News Focus, General Santos City

8. Cachuela, Hannibal - Punto News, Koronadal City

9. Cadagdagon, Jepon - Saksi News. General Santos City.

10. Caniban, John - Periodico Ini, General Santos City

11. Dalmacio, Lea - Socsargen News, General Santos City

12. Decina, Noel - Periodico Ini, General Santos City

13. Dela Cruz, Gina - Saksi News, General Santos City

14. Duhay, Jhoy - Gold Star Daily, Tacurong City

15. Evardo, Jolito - UNTV, General Santos City

16. Gatchalian, Santos - DXGO, Davao City

17. Legarte, Bienvenido, Jr. - Prontiera News, Koronadal City

18. Lupogan, Lindo - Mindanao Daily Gazette, Davao City

19. Maravilla, Ernesto “Bart" - Bombo Radyo, Koronadal City

20. Merisco, Rey - Periodico Ini, Koronadal City

21. Momay, Reynaldo “Bebot" - Midland Review, Tacurong City (still missing)

22. Montaño, Marife “Neneng" - Saksi News, General Santos City

23. Morales, Rosell - News Focus, General Santos City

24. Nuñez, Victor - UNTV, General Santos City

25. Perante, Ronnie - Gold Star Daily correspondent, Koronadal City

26. Parcon, Joel - Prontiera News, Koronadal City

27. Razon, Fernando “Rani" - Periodico Ini, General Santos City

28. Reblando, Alejandro “Bong" - Manila Bulletin, General Santos City

29. Salaysay, Napoleon - Mindanao Gazette, Cotabato City

30. Subang, Ian - Socsargen Today, General Santos City

31. Teodoro, Andres “Andy" - Central Mindanao Inquirer, Tacurong City

32. Tiamson, Daniel - UNTV, General Santos City

An earlier list of the media victims of the massacre was posted by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism last November 30, 2009