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71
Journalists Killed Since 1986
A
total of 103 media persons summarily executed since Marcos
If
earlier figures compiled by a press freedom group are included, the number of
mediapersons killed since 1972, when martial law was declared, until today is
103. Of the total, 71 were killed since 1986 when the Marcos dictatorship fell
until today under the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.
By Ronalyn V. Olea
Bulatlat.com
 If
earlier figures compiled by a press freedom group are included, the number of
mediapersons killed since 1972, when martial law was declared, until today is
103. Of the total, 71 were killed since 1986 when the Marcos dictatorship fell
until today under the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.
Bulatlat.com
came up with the latest figures by compiling reports previously monitored by the
Philippine Movement for Press Freedom (PMPF), a media watchdog active during the
administrations of Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos. From 1972-1999, the PMPF
documented 87 journalists slain, 34 of them during the Aquino and 19 under
Ramos.
PMPF
had led legal moves and mass protests against the repression of press freedom
and the slaying of several journalists. Most of its documentation was cited by
the UN Commission on Human Rights, Amnesty International and the International
Federation of Journalists (IFJ).
 The
international groups then took serious concern over the fact that the
Philippines was among the top five countries in the world with the biggest
number of journalists slain every year.
Meanwhile,
the Media for Peace, compiling data from the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) and
National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), reported a total of five under
Estrada and 13 under Macapagal-Arroyo, both in just two years. The figure under the present administration is bigger than
that of Ramos or Estrada during the same period (two years).
Most
of the killings recorded over the past three decades involved government
security forces including soldiers, policemen and paramilitary men. Also
reportedly involved were politicians, big businessmen and their private security
forces.
Many
killings and other forms of physical harassment have taken place following the
exposes’ or critical commentaries by the victims of anomalies, illegal
activities and other issues. Apparently, their critical reports did not sit well
with those involved.
One
of the most
celebrated cases was that of a newsman in Southern Luzon who was forced by a police
provincial commander to eat pages of his paper at the point of a gun. Another
was the fatal shooting of a radio broadcaster inside his own radio booth. The
firing was heard over the radio.
   
Most
alarming
Most
alarming however is the fact that in majority of the crimes committed against
media practitioners, not a single perpetrator was arrested let alone prosecuted.
This has prompted media groups including foreign media watchdogs and human
rights organizations to call the attention of government authorities about the
killings.
Yet,
government officials have denied there is a policy of persecution against
journalists or broadcasters. Top press officials have even reminded the media
– to the consternation of many journalists – that killings and other forms
of harassment are part of their trade.
Just
the same, media watchdogs have criticized government of encouraging the
harassment of journalists either by its own indifference to the crimes or by
subtle threats through, for instance, the closure of some radio stations during
the Aquino administration or filing of libel cases.
When
she was president, Mrs. Corazon Aquino charged journalist Luis Beltran with
libel. The case arose from a commentary by Beltran accusing the president of
“hiding under the bed” while Macalañang was under siege by coup plotters.
President Joseph Estrada also filed a P1-million libel suit against the Manila
Times for describing him as an “unwitting ninong (godfather)” in an
anomalous deal. Using his influence as president and as a former actor, Estrada
called for an advertisement boycott against the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Under
surveillance
President
Macapagal-Arroyo, on the other hand, hogged the headlines when she berated GMA-7
reporter Tina Panganiban-Perez for interviewing the fugitive Sen. Gringo Honasan
which, the president said, is a case of “abetting rebellion.” Almost at the
same time, Philippine National Police chief, Director General Hermogenes Ebdane
Jr. admitted that they had placed some journalists under surveillance allegedly
for maintaining links with rebel forces.
One
of the most
prominent
cases of atrocity committed against the media was the extra-judicial execution
last year of the vice-president of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines
for Mindanao. The CEGP leader, Beng Hernandez, was shot
several times reportedly by a group of Army troopers and paramilitary men in
Arakan Valley, North Cotabato. Hernandez, who was also editor of the Ateneo de
Davao newspaper, was conducting a research on peasant situation. Not one of the
perpetrators has been held.
CEGP
has also exposed the continuing harassment of campus editors and writers not
only by university authorities but by police and informers connected with the
ROTC system. With a report by Bobby Tuazon/Bulatlat.com
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