EDITORIAL - Murder in Masbate

Another journalist has been added to the long list of media workers gunned down in this country. The other night, Remate tabloid columnist Joaquin Briones was driving his motorcycle in Milagros, Masbate when two men on another motorbike shot him in the back. Briones did not survive the four gunshots.

Only last December, newspaper publisher Larry Que was shot dead in Virac, Catanduanes. Que’s widow linked a local official to the murder, but the suspected mastermind is at large and the case remains unsolved. 

The failure to arrest the killers in the scores of other deadly attacks on journalists has created the accurate impression that one can get away with permanently silencing critical commentators and bearers of bad news in this country. A culture of impunity is now entrenched, making the Philippines one of the top five deadliest countries for media workers.

Que was the first journalist to be murdered in the administration of Rodrigo Duterte, who as mayor of Davao City was also suspected of ordering the execution of his harsh critic, radio broadcaster Jun Pala. The President has denied the accusation while saying that Pala got what he deserved.

Those behind the executions of journalists undoubtedly feel the same way toward their victims. And if the mastermind is a political kingpin who controls every aspect of the criminal justice system in his turf, he is certain to get away with murder. This situation has consistently ranked the country high on the Global Impunity Index drawn up by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists.

Probers said Briones, who had tried entering politics, could have been murdered by political rivals. Masbate has one of the highest incidences of political and election violence. The only way to find out is to catch the gunmen and the brains and bring them to justice.