The statement of The United Print Media Group (UPMG) appears in full below:
The United Print Media Group (UPMG), the premier organization composed of member-representatives of major newspapers and magazine publishing companies in the country joins the grieving voices of the appalled and shocked Filipino people in condemning in the strongest possible way the Maguindanao Massacre. The incident that claimed the lives of more than 50 people, which included 27 of our brethren in the journalism community in the most brutal, savage and merciless manner, is definitely the most blatant, direct and shameless attack on media in history.
We join the nation in crying out for justice for the victims of this severe act of violence. In fact, wee feel they were not only the ones who were assaulted, raped and abused that fatal day. It also involved those of us in the press, where dedication and commitment to gather and deliver news and information, no matter how challenging or dear the cost may be, is primary. We call on our government, its leadership and its agencies to earnestly do everything within its power and use all its resources to apprehend the perpetrators of this most heinous and horrendous crime and throw at them the most severe punitive action available in law. Let no political or personal consideration get in the way of giving those who have been violated in this gruesome mass murder as well their families and colleagues, what rightfully belongs to them.
We call on members of the media and our industry to take heart and remain brave and bold in the pursuit of carrying out our chosen mission that we have sworn to. Let us courageously march on and continue our noble service to our fellowmen. Let us not be cowed and coerced by all this. Let us instead find inspiration and strength from it, so that we may make sure that our fallen comrades in Maguindanao would not have died in vain.
We pray for peace and eternal repose for the souls of those who perished and condole with the loved ones they have left behind. We sympathize with them and will be ready to be of some assistance in our own small way, in addressing some of their pending concerns-personal or otherwise, and hopefully to somehow alleviate their indescribable sufferings. We likewise commend and thank the publication companies, some of whom are our members and whose gallant people were among those who died, and the various media and other organizations, who have immediately and appropriately extended their concern, support and assistance in the call for justice and helping the families and loved ones of our fallen comrades.
