Palace: Journalists’ killings an assault on democracy

Malacañang branded yesterday as an assault to democracy the murders of journalists even as it tried to parry criticisms that the Arroyo administration was not doing enough to stop the killings.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the recent conviction of former police officer Guillermo Wapile last Nov. 29 was a "landmark decision" that would encourage witnesses to come out and testify on the killing of journalists.

Bunye noted the conviction marked the first time that somebody was finally made to pay for the murder of a journalist in the country.

"In one landmark decision, no less than a police officer has been convicted by the court. Several cases are in various stages of trial and if witnesses could just remain steadfast, we are optimistic that decisions would be forthcoming," he said.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, which earlier described the Philippines as the world’s most dangerous place for journalists, called the conviction of Wapile as "a significant step for press freedom in the Philippines."

But three days after Wapile’s conviction, Cebu-based radio journalist George Benaojan was killed by unidentified gunmen near a market in Talisay City.

A bystander was also wounded while the gunmen fled in a taxi. The journalist died a few hours later in hospital.

"The government is especially concerned over cases where journalists come under threat in the legitimate exercise of their profession, which makes the crime an assault on the democratic system itself," Bunye said.

He said the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Justice are working closely to bring killers of journalists to justice.

Bunye said the PNP and the DOJ already made significant gains in the prosecution of several suspects. — Paolo Romero