More journalists killed under Aquino’s watch – NPC

MORE journalists were killed during the first two years of President Benigno Aquino 3rd’s term than during the same period under the administrations of then-Presidents Gloria Arroyo, Joseph Estrada, Fidel Ramos and Corazon Aquino, the National Press Club of the Philippines and Alyansa ng Filipinong Mamamahayag (Alliance of Filipino Journalists) said on Thursday.

According to data gathered by the press club’s Press Freedom Committee, more media practitioners were killed during President Aquino’s first 20 months than that of his predecessor and now Rep. Arroyo of Pampanga province.

“Journalists die at a more serious and alarming rate these days. This is a sad fact. The fact is that the Aquino government’s rhetoric and lip service do not help in solving, much less preventing, these attacks on members of the press, which we see as an affront to press freedom,” the freedom committee said.

“If the Arroyo government had not done enough, the Aquino government is practically doing nothing to safeguard the lives of journalists. The President must walk the talk. His campaign against corruption must include wiping out the inept and corrupt government officials and private individuals who caused the deaths of these journalists,” the committee added.

The National Press Club said that it found that in less than two years of the Aquino administration, at least 12 journalists had been killed in various provinces: Jose Daguio in Kalinga (July 3, 2010), Miguel Belen of dwEB FM in Camarines Sur (July 9, 2010), Edilberto Cruz of Salida tabloid in Nueva Ecija (August 1 2010), Edison Falmeniana Sr. of Mindanao Inquirer in Zamboanga del Sur (December 10, 2010), Dr. Gerry Ortega of dwAR in Palawan (January 24, 2011); Cirilo Gallardo of dwWW FM in Abra (February 1, 2011), Len Flores Somera of dzME in Manila (March 24, 2011), Romeo Olea of dwEB FM in Bicol (June 13, 2011), Neil Aranga Jimena of dyRP Iloilo and dyAG in Cadiz City (August 22, 2011), Datu Roy Quijada Gallego, a radio commentator in Caraga Region (October 14, 2011), Alfredo Velarde Jr. of Brigada News in General Santos City (November 11, 2011) and Christopher Guarin (January 5, 2012).

According to the press club, only five journalists—Mohammad Yusoph of Radio dxID in Pagadian City (February 23, 2001), Joy Mortel of Mindoro Guardian (May 31, 2001), Candelario Cayona of Radio dxLL in Zamboanga City (May 30, 2001), Edgar Damalerio of Zamboanga Scribe and dxKP Radio also in Pagadian City (May 13, 2002) and Rhode Sonny Esguerra Alcantara of Quo Vadis San Pablo and Kokus in San Pablo City, Laguna (August 22, 2002)—were killed in the first two years of the Arroyo administration.

Benny Antiporda, the president of Alyansa ng Filipinong Mamamahayag, said that the government should promptly stop the attacks on journalists.

“There is an uptrend in media killings. Comparatively, the number of slain journalists under [President Aquino’s watch] this early [into his administration] was equivalent only to the number of journalists killed in almost three years of the Arroyo regime. There is a huge difference. This is a wake-up call to the President, the Philippine National Police, the DOJ [Department of Justice] and all agencies concerned. We have heard enough. It is time for you to act.” Antiporda added. –JOVEE MARIE N. DELA CRUZ REPORTER, Manila Times