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Friday, May 13, 2005
Gov't: Protection of journalists a priority
MANILA -- The protection of journalists and immediate investigation of attacks against them will be among government's top security concerns, an aide of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Thursday.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, who is at the same time Arroyo's spokesman, said the series of attacks against journalists pose a "continuing challenge to the protection of press freedom in the country."
Bunye said law enforcement authorities and media organizations should close ranks and strengthen coordinated vigilance in order to prevent more journalists from being killed.
Philip Agustin, 54, publisher and editor of the Starline Times Recorder, was the fifth Filipino journalist murdered this year and the 66th since democracy was restored in the country in 1986.
Agustin was killed last May 10 inside his home in Dingalan, Aurora. He sustained a single gunshot wound in the head inflicted by a .45-caliber gun.
"We condemn the slaying of publisher Philip Agustin. Protection of the media and the investigation of attacks on media will be among the government's top security concerns," Bunye said.
Bunye also said Malacañang and House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. have invited media groups to a gathering in Malacañang on Monday for the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) over a fund that would be used to investigate the killing of journalists and to assist their families.
Arroyo had ordered Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes Tuesday to convene a consultative meeting of stakeholders in order to finally solve the media killings in the country.
She also said she and De Venecia are putting up a fund for reward on information concerning the killings, with de Venecia contributing P2 million and Arroyo chipping in P3 million. She said government will also see what kind of resources the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group or any other government agency could provide to solve the media killings. (JMR)
(May 13, 2005 issue)
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