Palace admits killings of journalists a cause for concern

Malacañang admitted yesterday it is concerned over escalating violence against journalists here, calling it a "national shame" for a country that claims to be a bastion of press freedom.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita acknowledged that 58 journalists have been killed here between 1986 and May 1this year, with only 31 cases making it to court and 27 still under investigation.

"We are not running away from the facts that show that, indeed, many members of the media have been killed in the Philippines," he said. "But that doesn’t mean we are not doing anything about it."

On the other hand, Secretary Cerge Remonde, group head for government mass media, described the performance of the Philippine National Police in curbing violence against media practitioners as "very unsatisfactory."

"The President has… given the marching orders to stop these killings, but still they continue," he said. Ermita said it was unfortunate that the killings of journalists were job-related when the Philippine media was supposed to be one of the freest in the world. "We believe in the exercise of free expression," he said.

"The government will definitely not go for it, the government will not tolerate it. The government is doing something to account for the perpetrator and to strengthen measures to protect and secure the members of mass media."

He assured witnesses under government protection would be protected if they decided to help in criminal cases.

"Maybe we can come up with a certain program to remind people to come out and help in the investigation, especially to come out as witnesses, because you can be very sure that there are people who are around when these things happen."

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye also condemned the shooting of Klein Cantoneros, a commentator at radio station dxAA-FM in Dipolog City, yesterday.

Bunye said Malacañang was "saddened" by the attack on Cantoneros and assured that all cases of murdered journalists are being investigated by the PNP.

Bunye earlier dismissed a report of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists as "exaggerated and unfair." The report had identified the Philippines as the most murderous country for journalists since 2000, surpassing Iraq, Colombia and Russia.

He said Task Force Newsmen was formed by the PNP precisely to protect journalists, and assured the government would always respect and protect freedom of the press and freedom of expression.

Meanwhile, Senate President Franklin Drilon called on Philippine National Police chief Director General Arturo Lomibao to relieve police officials who fail to solve the latest attacks against journalists within two weeks.

"It is the duty of the local police chiefs, from the PNP regional to the provincial and city commanders, to maintain peace and order and prove that crime does not pay in their areas of responsibility," he said.

Drilon asked Lomibao to consider his proposal to make local police chiefs responsible for the resolution of cases involving journalists in their areas.

"I am asking Director General Lomibao to put severe pressure on local police chiefs to stop these senseless murders of journalists," he said.

Drilon said local police chiefs must be given a maximum of two weeks to identify and arrest the murderers of journalists, or else face replacement by more competent investigators.

"If the police cannot protect the journalists in his area of jurisdiction, how can he protect ordinary citizens?" he asked.

On the other hand, Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan urged the Senate committee on justice and human rights to investigate the escalation of attacks on journalists.

"It is time that we take notice of the worsening political repression in the country," he said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Manuel Villar, who chairs the Senate committee on public order, filed a resolution calling for an inquiry into the media killings. — With Paolo Romero, Marvin Sy, Edith Regalado, Ronilo Ladrido Pamonag