Malacañang says fight vs impunity improving

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang maintained yesterday that the Philippines’ record in protecting journalists and press freedom has significantly improved and the assessment of unexplained killings in the country must be put in the right context.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), in its 2013 Impunity Index, ranked the Philippines as the third worst country, next only to Iraq and Somalia.

In a statement, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma said the continuing stigma on the Philippines’ culture of impunity is significantly due to the Maguindanao massacre in 2009 in which 31 journalists were killed.

“In the full decade from 2001 to 2011, a total of 39 media persons were killed in the country. Hence, it is evident that the Philippines has achieved major gains in removing the culture of impunity in the period following the Maguindanao massacre,” Coloma explained.

Under the Aquino administration, Coloma pointed out the Philippine National Police reported that of eight cases involving media practitioners from July 2010 through December 2011, it was determined that six turned out to be unrelated to the victims’ media practice.

Of these cases, four are currently under police investigation, while four have been filed in court, Coloma said.

On the Maguindanao massacre, official court records would show that as of 2012, a total of 196 accused persons have been officially charged, 93 of whom are under detention or custody, and 64 have been arraigned before the trial court.

“As we join in the celebration of the 20th World Press Freedom Day (yesterday), we reiterate our commitment to uphold free expression in a free society, in consonance with our belief that a well-informed citizenry is able to make sound decisions that will empower them to shape a better future for themselves and their families,” Coloma said.

”We will resolutely pursue the prosecution of the Maguindanao massacre case as we are determined to erase the culture of impunity in our country,” Coloma stressed.

The CPJ said despite President Aquino’s vow to reverse impunity in journalist murders, the Philippines ranked third worst worldwide for the fourth consecutive year.