Press Freedom and the Killing of Journalists

November 23, 2008

Press Freedom and the Killing of Journalists

(First Part of Two Series)

By Fiscal Eldred Cole

Once upon a time, way before I was born, the Philippines had “the freest press in Asia.” It was the era of newspapers where journalists were respected, editorial opinions were revered, and being in the media is considered noble, next in rank with that of the parish priest. Sadly at present, the Philippines is now described as the “most dangerous place for journalists next to Iraq” and “the most murderous place in the world for journalists.” If there is an “Oscar” or “Grammy” for most dangerous place to be a journalist, the Philippines would have won the award since the Marcos regime, in fact, we would have been in the “hall of fame” since then.

I should know. One of the reasons I took up law aside from the fact that I did not want to work after acquiring a degree in Mass Communication was because at the time, journalists were killed or has disappeared without a trace. However, by the time I passed the bar, lawyers were also getting slaughtered. That is why I am giving up my dream of becoming a judge, not only because I will have a hard time getting a “padrino”, they are shooting judges now, too.

So, why is media being targeted? Well, in dictatorship, press criticism is regarded to be a threat; and during the Marcos era, the regime sponsored a view of the press as partner in contrast to the adversarial concept that looked at the press as the watchdogs of the government. Thus, the Lopezes (of the ABS-CBN) lost their TV station among others, RPN 9 of the Benedictos (the sugar magnate) flourished, and PTV 4 as government TV station became mainstream TV. I grew up with only these TV stations with GMA TV as the Switzerland of media. The press then was regulated and because of such control, the citizenry, meaning “us 56 million Filipinos” (population circa 1980s), was unaware of the most pressing problems like the energy crisis, the external debt, etc. until the collapse of the regime in 1986. The birth of “developmental” journalism came about, where media is dictated to write only about the government’s so-called development projects, and as an off-shoot, thus the beginning of “envelopmental” journalism, too. The dictatorship did not only “kill” the press, it “purchase” it, lock, stock and fountain pen.

However, the so-called restoration of press freedom in 1987 Constitution did not diminish the legacy of martial law; the killings of journalists continued, (as well as the buying and selling). The killings have persisted and have steadily increased since and in fact, the country is ranked, the same as that of Iraq, Russia, Afghanistan and Columbia, with the most number of journalists killed.

What is most appalling with this phenomenon is the continuing, seemingly unstoppable pattern of journalists being killed and crucial to these killings is the culture of impunity. What pray is “impunity”? Well, it is the exemption from punishment or loss. Exemption from what? You see, since 2001, there are estimated 33 or plus journalists killed in the line of duty. There are 20 more or less, killed for reasons not connected with their work. With this, so far there are two (2) resolved, six (6) under trial, eighteen (18) under investigation, four (4) dismissed and three (3) pending investigation. Conviction? None.

Suppressing the freedom of the press or muzzling the media through killings is a violation of human rights, a mockery of the rule of law. The violation of such right is common in countries with weak traditions of the rule of law but where corruption has taken deep roots, the judiciary is weak and security forces enjoy special protection from prosecution. Oh boy, we all have the above-mentioned symptoms, and we are aligned with Iraq, Russia, Afghanistan and Columbia. Need I write more? (For comments and violent reactions e-mail me at coi_416@hotmail.com)

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Written by admin · Filed Under Columnists, Sai/Mami/Fiscal Eldred Cole