‘Philippines is most dangerous to journalists’

EDITORIAL

The murder of media practitioners is still going up in this country even as an international organization tagged the Philippines the most dangerous place for journalists.

A total of 139 journalists and media workers have been killed since 1986, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.

Latest were the killings of radio broadcasters Agustin of dzJC in Laoag and Desiderio Camangyan of Sunrise FM radio in Davao Oriental.

Various media groups like the NUJP and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) have condemned the killings as according to a KBP official “killing or intimidating media now is easier because they (perpetrators) see the Maguindanao massacre as an example that it’s simple to do it and justice is hard to get.”

The reason the killing of journalists persists is because justice has not been served in the Maguindanao massacre, according to the KBP. “Because of the unresolved Maguindanao massacre, there is an impression that it is easy to kill mediamen.”

Fifty seven people in Maguindanao province were allegedly killed by the Ampatuan clan and their henchmen including police officers last Nov. 23, of whom at least 30 were journalists. The slain journalists were covering the filing of documents for the gubernatorial bid of Buluan Vice Mayor Ismael Mangudadatu when they were abducted and killed. Mangudadatu is the governor-elect of Maguindanao.

This is now the challenge to the incoming administration of president-elect Benigno Aquino III -- to solve murders of mediamen, the most number of whom were killed during the Arroyo administration.

Arming mediamen is not the answer to the problem but members of the Fourth Estate may have to check their style of reportage or commenting against certain officials if they are going overboard contrary to the journalist’s code of ethics and inviting the ire of their reports.

Members of the media we believe are usually responsible and cautious in news reports and commentaries in telling the truth as part of their jobs and they should not be killed for doing public service.