Source: Sun Star
2013 World Impunity Index
MANILA — The Philippines has ranked third in the 2013 Impunity Index of the New York-based non-profit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide.
Iraq and Somalia were the top two countries on the index of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
The Philippines’s index rating was 0.580 unsolved journalist murders per million inhabitants.
CPJ said that despite President Benigno Aquino III’s vow to reverse impunity in journalist murders, the Philippines ranked third worst worldwide for the fourth consecutive year.
“The 2011 (Gerardo) Ortega murder reflects the politically inspired nature of the large majority of Philippine killings, along with the general breakdown in the rule of law that has allowed the killings to continue,” the group said.
Ortega, a radio talk show host who exposed corruption, was shot in the back of the head in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
Former Palawan governor Joel Reyes and his brother, former Coron mayor Mario Reyes, were allegedly the masterminds in the killing. But the two have remained in hiding.
CPJ noted that police soon made arrests and traced the murder weapon to a provincial governor’s aide. But Ortega’s case suffered a severe blow in 2013 when an alleged conspirator who had turned state witness was killed in prison.
In a news briefing, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the Aquino administration is committed to stop the impunity against the journalists.
“But, again, let me also explain also that when we look into each particular incident, we look into the motives also, and there we are able to segregate if it’s politically motivated or there were other reasons for the extralegal killings for the journalists,” he explained, adding that the task force formed by the Department of Justice has been handling all the extralegal killings.
In a separate statement, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma blamed the Maguidanao massacre for the “continuing stigma” on the Philippines’ culture of impunity.
He noted that 31 of the 58 killed in the Maguindanao massacre in 2009 were journalists. In the full decade from 2001 to 2011, a total of 39 media persons were killed in the country.
“Hence, it is evident that the Philippines has achieved major gains in removing the culture of impunity in the period following the Maguindanao massacre,” Coloma said.
Under the Aquino administration, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has reported that of eight cases involving media practitioners from July 2010 through December 2011, it was determined that six of the eight incidents have either turned out to be unrelated to the victims’ media practice, he said.
Of these cases, four are currently under police investigation, while four have been filed in court.
On the Maguindanao massacre, official court records would show that as of 2012, a total of 196 accused persons have been officially charged, 93 of whom are under detention or custody, and 64 of whom have been arraigned before the trial court, Coloma explained.
“As we join in the celebration of the 20th World Press Freedom Day today, 3 May 2013, we reiterate our commitment to uphold free expression in a free society, in consonance with our belief that a well-informed citizenry is able to make sound decisions that will empower them to shape a better future for themselves and their families,” Coloma said.
He added that the Aquino administration will resolutely pursue the prosecution of the Maguindanao massacre case as it is determined to erase the culture of impunity in the country. (SDR/Sunnex)
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