Journalists’ group: Time to fight back

BAGUIO CITY — One of the country’s largest journalists’ groups called on all media practitioners to "fight back" as it lamented the government’s ineffectual efforts to curb the killing of journalists.

"Today, we say enough is enough. We have condemned enough. We have issued statements enough. We have marched in the streets and called government’s attention enough," National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) director and spokesman Jose Torres said.

Calling journalists in the country to fight back by using the tools of their trade as weapons, Torres said, "Let us cease to be just observers and recorders of the death of democracy."

He issued the strongly worded statement after Palawan broadcaster Fernando "Dong" Batul was murdered Monday morning on his way to anchor his regular "Bastonero" program on radio station dyPR in Puerto Princesa City.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye Jr., meanwhile, said he was not in favor of arming journalists despite the dangers they face in the performance of their duties.

Bunye made the statement as Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said Malacañang was not in favor of allowing journalists to carry firearms even outside their residence due to the recent killings of media people.

"As the saying goes, the pen is mightier than the sword. A journalist’s best weapon is the persuasive powers of his or her words — words which can enlighten, clarify, encourage and embolden," Bunye said.

Batul’s killing came after photojournalist Albert Orsolino was gunned down in Caloocan City on May 16 and San Pablo City, Laguna broadcaster Iring Maranan was assaulted just hours after by Laguna Councilor Edgardo Adajar in full view of 100 people, including other journalists.

"It is clear that the survival of democracy now rests solely in our hands," Torres said, noting "the death toll of Filipino journalists has already far outstripped the 34 claimed by the 14-year Marcos dictatorship."

He added that the NUJP can "no longer see how this administration can claim to preside over a society that claims to be the freest in this part of the world."

Torres pointed out that "when crimes against journalists remain unpunished, the future of a country is endangered and organized crime and corruption become the main beneficiaries of this impunity."

He called on "the people, the public, the audiences we serve, to stand with us. For the freedom of the press we struggle to uphold is not ours alone but the logical extension of the people’s right to free expression and to know from which all other rights emanate."

Gov’t accountable

Holding the Arroyo administration accountable for the killings, Torres said the government’s "inaction emboldened those who would impose on us the ultimate form of censorship — death. It has actually attempted to muzzle the independent Philippine press."

He noted that even the Philippine National Police acknowledged only five cases out of 79 killings of journalists since 1986 have been resolved by the courts.

"And we stress that, while the killers in these cases may have been convicted, not a single mastermind has ever been brought to justice," Torres said, adding that in many cases, the killings may be traced to agents of state security.

He lamented that what journalists are getting are "empty promises, inutile task forces, and fatuous claims by the likes of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales that ‘forces out to destabilize’ the government are behind our colleagues’ deaths and those of hundreds of activists."

Torres said the Arroyo administration, obsessed with national security and its own survival, failed to protect the lives and respect the rights of Filipino people — journalists included — and consequently failed to defend democracy.

"We reject and condemn such facile attempts to trivialize our colleagues’ deaths and make them another pawn in the political games this government plays," he said.

The Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontieres (Reporters Without Borders) also expressed dismay at the murder of Batul, saying "murders of journalists investigating corruption were a frequent occurrence and that, after Iraq, the Philippines was viewed as the most dangerous country in the world for journalists." The group noted that a press photographer was murdered here less than a week ago.

"We urge the investigators to give full consideration to the professional lead," said Reporters Without Borders, as it called on authorities "to do their utmost to improve the security of journalists in the country and to fight against (this) impunity."

Meanwhile, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has also called on the Philippine government to investigate Batul’s killing.

"Unfortunately, we have seen in the weeks since the authorities’ attempt to play down the dangers faced by journalists (while) reporters and commentators continue to be at high risk," CPJ executive director Ann Cooper said.

"The problem has not gone away, as the killing of Fernando Batul shows. We call on the authorities to investigate this and all killings of journalists thoroughly and bring those responsible to justice," she added. — With Aurea Calica, James Mananghaya, Cesar Ramirez