End impunity for crimes against journalists

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) marked International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists yesterday, Nov. 2, with sadness and an undimmed sense of determination to help end media killings in our country and the whole world, and bring perpetrators to justice.

While the United Nations chose this date to commemorate the assassination of two French journalists in Mali on Nov. 2, 2013, it should never be forgotten that the worst killing of journalists in history happened in the Philippines and also in November. The murder of 32 journalists (along with 26 other civilians) on Nov. 23, 2009, in Ampatuan, Maguindanao Province, was dubbed by the Committee to Protect Journalists as the single deadliest event for journalists in the world. The NUJP believes the Ampatuan massacre substantially contributed to the global advocacy to protect journalists and the freedom of the press.

The fact that no one has yet been convicted nearly eight years after the massacre underscores the fact that impunity reigns in this country. Despite repeated promises to bring the perpetrators to justice, the Aquino administration utterly failed, with Andal Ampatuan Sr. escaping court judgment by dying before defense witnesses could even be presented. Meantime, his son, Sajid Islam Ampatuan, who was Maguindanao governor at the time of the massacre, was granted bail by the Court of Appeals in January 2016, just in time for the election campaign where he ran for mayor of Shariff Aguak.

Impunity exists to this day under the Duterte administration, which is not doing any better than its predecessors. In fact, Mr. Duterte himself justified the killings of journalists that contributed to more attacks against journalists. Just last week, broadcaster Christopher Lozada was brazenly gunned down near his house in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur.

We note that Mr. Duterte’s Administrative Order No. 1 created the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, which is looking into media killings and harassments. The fact remains, however, that media killings and crimes against journalists are still happening, as evidenced by five media workers killed under the current administration on top of murder attempts and harassment against media workers.

It is, thus, no surprise that the Philippines ranked fifth in the world in terms of impunity in killing of journalists in the 2017 Global Impunity Index of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

In its report, “Getting Away with Murder: 2017 Global Impunity Index” published last Oct. 31, CPJ said “no convictions have been achieved” despite the formation of a task force on media killings.

We demand that Mr. Duterte order a stop to media killings and impunity in this country. He can start by not encouraging others to kill journalists and prosecuting those charged once and for all.

JO CLEMENTE, chair, DABET PANELO, secretary general, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, [email protected]