PH’s Union of Journalists calls out gov’t to strengthen law enforcement protecting the press
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) is calling on the government to strengthen the enforcement of laws protecting the media in the wake of the killing of another broadcaster.
Kathlyn Cortez, Chief of NUJP Mindanao Safety Office, emphasized that there exist numerous laws in the Philippines aimed at protecting the media. However, there is a deficiency in the enforcement of these laws and a lack of government commitment to ensuring that those responsible for crimes are held accountable.
Radio broadcaster Juan Jumalon was fatally shot while on the air at radio station 94.7 Calamba Gold FM, located in his residence at Barangay Don Bernardo A. Neri in Calamba town, Misamis Occidental, in the southern part of the Philippines.
In response to the incident, Marcos Jr. has instructed the Philippine National Police to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the murder of the radio broadcaster. The police have already carried out a dragnet operation and established checkpoints in an effort to apprehend the possible suspect while the investigation is ongoing.
If it is determined that Jumalon's killing is related to his work, it would mark the 199th such incident in the Philippines since 1986.
The government has yet to resolve the cases of various media personalities who lost their lives during the Marcos Jr. administration, including Percival Mabasa and Cresenciano Bunduquin, among others.
According to the recently released Global Impunity Index by the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Philippines remains a perilous environment for reporters, particularly radio journalists.
The Philippines has been ranked eighth among the "nations with the poorest track record in prosecuting individuals responsible for journalist killings." This marks an increase from its 8th position in 2022, primarily due to Haiti's inclusion in the index this year.
In response to the situation, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has instructed the Philippine National Police to launch an inquiry into Jumalon's murder, and a special investigation task group (SITG) has been established.
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) has also alerted the National Bureau of Investigation to assist in collecting evidence. Furthermore, the Department of Justice has pledged to ensure a comprehensive investigation, as well as the swift identification and prosecution of the culprits, while strongly condemning the crime.
