The Union of Journalists of the Philippines - UP Diliman (UJP-UP) strongly condemns the killing of Tanod photojournalist Prudencio "Dick" Melendres last July 31.
As mass communication students, we are fraught with fear and anger over this vicious succession of killings. We worry for our future in this profession that we have chosen; if this should continue, then surely we also can be targets someday. Even with our worries, we remain vigilant in the fight to bring to an end these killings of journalists.
Melendres was the fourth journalist killed since June 2006. He was shot in broad daylight by unidentified gunmen at 8:40 in the morning near his home in Malabon City.
Broadcaster Armando Pace was killed last July 18 while heading home in Digos City in Davao. George Vigo, a correspondent for the Union of Catholic Asian News, and his wife Macel Alave-Vigo, also a broadcaster, were killed on June 19 in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato.
Forty-six journalists have been murdered since Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed office in 2001. Except for the case of Edgar Damalerio, all these cases remain unsolved. These are the Philippine media’s worst years since the supposed restoration of democracy in 1986. Next to Iraq, the Philippines is now the most dangerous place to practice journalism.
We are concerned that journalists are being killed for doing their jobs of reporting the facts and giving people the information they need. True, some of the killings were not work-related, but in the end, murder is murder, no matter what the reasons for committing it may be. Keeping silent will only advance the troublesome culture of violence and impunity.
It should be noted that the number of media killings has reached new levels during the Arroyo administration. Also, they are happening despite the protection of the freedom of the press by the Bill of Rights. The unabated media killings reflect the state of human rights violations throughout the country today; political and extra-judicial killings now number at more that 700.
We therefore ask the Arroyo administration to bring the perpetrators of these media killings justice. By not doing anything, the administration encourages future violence and proves its "state terrorism". Show us the government’s commitment to the Constitution and to the people.
MAMAMAHAYAG NG MAMAMAYAN,
HUWAG PASLANGIN!