HOUSE Independent Bloc leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez on Friday voiced concern at the rising number of killings of journalists in the country even as he urged the Aquino administration to address the issue.
Romualdez, a lawyer and president of the Philippine Constitution Association, said various government agencies led by the Philippine National Police and the Department of Justice should work double time to end the impunity against journalists as the International Federation of Journalists announced the country is the second most dangerous place for journalist with 146 killings over the past 25 years.
“The poor handling of cases regarding killings of journalists is very evident and we should do something to solve the problem,” lamented Romualdez, head of the House Independent Bloc and a three-term congressman who is running for the Senate under a platform anchored on compassionate governance.
“The killings of journalists are very lamentable and I condemn these in the strongest possible terms and authorities should run after perpetrators and unmask the masterminds to stop these continued violence against media persons,” Romualdez, a shared senatorial candidate of Vice President Jejomar Binay and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who are both running for president, said
IFJ general secretary Anthony Bellanger said 2006 was the worst year of all with 155 journalists killed.
Over the past 25 years, Iraq has topped the list of most dangerous countries for journalists with 309 killings, the overwhelming majority of them since the 2003 US led invasion and war.
In second place is the Philippines, with 146 killings, while Mexico and its drugs-related violence is third with 120.
Romualdez said the government should be at the forefront in upholding the rights and safety of media practitioners.
“We should fight all forms of violence against media and defend human life. We have to apprehend the perpetrators of media killings,” Romualdez said as he condemned the continued and worsening attacks against journalists.
From 1975 to 2000, at least 2,297 journalists and media staff have been killed for doing nothing more than trying to inform the world on war, revolution, crime and corruption.