Friday, August 29, 2008 President to media: Be responsible
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday chided the media groups for focusing more on "gossipy headlines and inflated circulation numbers" as she renewed calls for the observance of responsible journalism in the country.
Arroyo, during the 100th Anniversary of the Philippines Free Press Magazine at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Makati City, also renewed her administration's commitment to protect the media and solve the media killings.
The President said journalists are very critical to maintain the country's strong democracy, but she urged them to be more responsible as the irresponsible practice of press freedom would not help in nation building.
"In the hands of... those who want the freedom without the responsibility degenerates into a callous license to aspire to little more than gossipy headlines and inflated circulation numbers, no matter what cost must be paid in the debasement of public discourse," she said.
The administration had its share of clash with the media like in 2007 when they allegedly cracked down on journalists that are critical of their policies by locking down and sending policemen in the media offices, and when First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo filed several libel suits against members of the press.
The President is also hounded by a high number of media killings under her administration.
Records of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines showed that killings of journalists since 1986 have reached 96, 36 of which occurring since 2001 or when Arroyo assumed office.
The Chief Executive assured that her administration is doing all it can to protect the media practitioners and to solve the killings, urging the families of the victims to cooperate with authorities to hasten the resolution of the cases.
"I deplore the killings, be they from Left or Right, against journalists. We aim to break this sad historical cycle. We are focused on bringing perpetrators to justice, working with Congress to pass new laws to protect victims and jail criminals, and exhort the nation to leave behind its terrible legacy of political violence and clan vendettas."
"We will stop at nothing to protect the lives of our nation's media men and women. We welcome all the cooperation that the media can provide," she added.
Arroyo cited the cases of broadcasters Dennis Cuesta, Martin Roxas and Bert Sison which she said were resolved after their families cooperated and worked with authorities.
"The cases were solved in an average of nine working days after the perpetration - it only shows that crimes such as these cannot be resolved by the government alone. Task Force 211 and our various law enforcement agencies need the support and cooperation of all stakeholders if we are to end these killings once and for all," she said.
The task force, created through Administrative Order (AO) 211 to pursue the media killings, is headed by Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor.
Arroyo assured witnesses that they would be under the Department of Justice's Witness Protection Program to ensure their security in exchange for helping in the resolution of the cases. (JMR/Sunnex)
