Saturday, April 28, 2007 Police, press group to discuss ways to stop media slays
* We do not tolerate extrajudicial killings, Palace reiterates
THE National Police's Task Force Usig has welcomed a proposal by the National Union of Journalists (NUJP) for a dialogue that will thresh out measures to address killings and violence involving journalists.
"(We) welcome the proposal of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines to hold a dialogue with the police and some key officials of government to discuss concrete measures on how to stem violence against members of media," said task force head Geary Barias.
According to Barias, he consulted PNP Chief Oscar Calderon on the dialogue and the PNP chief was amenable to the idea
Barias said the police have been wanting to dialogue with members of the media to address incidents involving journalists, the latest of which was the killing of a reporter of a government-run radio station in Nueva Ecija about two weeks ago.
"This gesture of cooperation by NUJP will undoubtedly hasten the solution of the remaining six cases of violence committed against journalists which Task Force Usig is now working on," he added.
Barias noted that over the past years, the police have already filed 21 cases before the courts involving the killing of journalists. Four of the cases have already resulted in conviction of the killers, he said.
"We are encouraged by our success in the prosecution of the killer of Marlene Esperat in Mindanao. We have revived the cases against the alleged masterminds and we are highly optimistic that something significant will come out of this effort," he said.
Meanwhile, Malacañang reiterated that it deplores extrajudicial killings and is committed to breaking the "cycle of violence" once and for all.
The Palace issued the statement in answer to the letter of US Representative Ellen Tauscher (California) to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for government to "move quickly" to prosecute those responsible for the crimes and clarify that it is not condoning murder as a means to limit the movement of leftist groups in the country.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the government thanks Tauscher for her concern.
"We will communicate to her the fact that this administration deplores the killings, be they from left or right, against journalists or against activists, and is committed to breaking this cycle of violence that has long plagued the Philippine political environment once and for all," said Bunye, who is also Presidential spokesman.
"This government is dedicated to the protection of human rights and will continue to take the necessary measures to address this issue," he added.
Tauscher, in her letter to Arroyo dated April 5, said Filipino-Americans and her constituents in the 10th congressional district have raised concern regarding the killings of leftist political activists.
Philippine Ambassador to the US Willie Gaa and US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney also received copies of the letter. (VR/JMR/Sunnex)
