More than a dozen journalists have been killed when “at least 36 people were abducted by gunmen in Maguindanao province in the southern Philippines,” according to Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE).

“In my long association with the profession of journalism, this is the worst day of killing that I can remember. We join the world community of journalists in mourning this terrible and senseless loss of life.”

The International News Safety Institute called Nov. 23 “the blackest day in the history of journalism in the Philippines, already one of the deadliest nations on earth for the news media” in a news release.

On Nov. 23 BBC News reported  that “twenty-one politicians and journalists who were abducted in the southern Philippines have been found dead” and that “more members of the group are missing, feared dead.”

Reuters reported:

“Military officials said the dead included Genalyn Tiamzon-Mangudadatu, who was on the way to file the nomination of her husband to contest the governorship of Maguindanao province against Datu Andal Ampatuan, the head of a powerful local family. She was accompanied by two lawyers, several members of her family and local journalists.”