BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - Local journalists and indigenous Filipino organizations condemned Monday’s massacre of 57 civilians, including 13 journalists, in Maguindanao by armed men believed to be followers of a staunch political ally of President Macapagal Arroyo.

Beverly Longid, president of the party-list group Katribu, said two of the victims were lawyers advocating indigenous peoples’ rights— lawyers Concepcion Brizuela and Cynthia Oquendo.

Longid said Brizuela had a long history of defending ancestral land cases.

In a joint statement issued by Longid and Suara Bangsamoro party-list president Zaynab Ampatuan, they said “the incident shows the prevailing impunity and brazenness perpetuated by traditional politician warlords held in patronage by Malacañang,” referring to the powerful Ampatuan clan of Maguindanao.

“In the last elections, the suspects—[members of the] Ampatuan … clan— purportedly was responsible in rigging the elections in favor of [Ms Arroyo] and her entire slate. Thus, in patronage, Malacañang allowed the rule of terror by the [Ampatuans] in Maguindanao,” the statement said.

“The [Ampatuans are] also reportedly responsible for many human rights violations involving Moro people who oppose the warlord clan’s rule in Maguindanao,” it said.

On Tuesday night, members of the Baguio-Benguet chapter of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) lighted candles for the victims at the Baguio cathedral.

In the city of Malolos on Wednesday, close to 70 journalists from different Bulacan media clubs and organizations staged their own rally in front of the Marcelo H. del Pilar monument at the Bulacan State University.

The Bulacan journalists wore black shirts and black arm bands.

Dino Balabo, NUJP Bulacan chapter president, said journalists should not remain silent about the mass murder.

Bulacan journalists also sought from the provincial government guarantees that they would be safe during the coverage of the 2010 elections.

In Cagayan Valley, journalists in Isabela and Cagayan wore black shirts and black arm bands to condemn the Maguindanao massacre.

Around 50 journalists and civic leaders gathered in Tuguegarao City on Wednesday for a prayer rally that denounced the killings.

Rod Calixto, a local paper editor, said the killings “would give the strong message to the civilized world not to vote for politicians who are inhumane and heartless.”