Government vows swift resolution of journalists’ murder cases

The government said yesterday it wants a "swift resolution" of journalists’ murders, after a global press watchdog said the country was the world’s deadliest place for journalists next to Iraq in 2005.

The Paris-based Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF or Reporters Without Borders) report said 63 journalists were killed worldwide in 2005 and 1,300 physically attacked or threatened, making it the deadliest year in a decade.

Of the total deaths, seven were from the Philippines, second only to Iraq, where 24 journalists and five media assistants were slain last year.

The local union of journalists, however, said nine were killed in 2005, most of them working for provincial radio stations and who were murdered for tackling local corruption.

Reporters Without Borders said that when it comes to crimes against journalists "impunity remained the rule" in the Philippines, even as it noted the recent conviction of the killer of Filipino broadcaster Edgar Demalerio, who was murdered in 2002.

Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said national police had been ordered to "double its efforts in the prevention (of) these heinous crimes."

"Our law enforcement authorities are working round the clock on the swift resolution of the murders of journalists," Bunye said in a statement.

"Ordinary citizens can also be a part of this effort by coming out to testify when needed. We must work together to protect our journalists in order for them to practice their profession without fear of harm and harassment.

"Press freedom has always been a strong pillar of Philippine democracy," Bunye said.

In its annual roundup, RSF said Filipino journalists were slain while trying to inform the public.

"Their enemies were no longer armed groups but politicians, businessmen and drug traffickers ready to silence journalists who exposed their crimes," said RSF Asia-Pacific desk chief Vincent Brossel.

National Union of Journalists of the Philippines president Jose Torres said while media men welcome efforts of authorities to solve the killings, the government must really prove it is serious in protecting press freedom by going after the masterminds of the murders. — AFP, Paolo Romero