Media groups: More journalists killed in Aquino's first years than Arroyo's

Two media groups — the National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC) and Alyansa ng Filipinong Mamamahayag (Afima) — claimed that more journalists were killed during the Aquino administration than during the first years of the Arroyo admin.  

In a news release posted on their Facebook account on Wednesday, NPC officials said in less than two years of the Aquino administration, 12 journalists had been slain. The latest victim was Christopher Guarin, who was shot several times before his wife and child in General Santos City on January 5 this year.

On the other hand, the NPC said only "five mediamen killed in the first two years of the Arroyo administration," based on data culled by the NPC Press Freedom Committee chaired by Director Joel Sy Egco. The NPC said the journalists killed during Arroyo's first 20 months were:

• Mohammad Yusoph of Radio DXID Pagadian City (February 23, 2001);
• Joy Mortel of Mindoro Guardian (May 31, 2001);
• Candelario Cayona of Radio DXLL in Zamboanga City (May 30, 2001);
• Edgar Damalerio of Zamboanga Scribe and DXKP Radio also in Pagadian City (May 13, 2002), and
• Rhode Sonny Esguerra Alcantara of “Quo Vadis San Pablo” and Kokus in San Pablo, Laguna (August 22, 2002).

Before Guarin’s killing in January, the NPC said the other members of the press who were murdered since Aquino assumed office were:

• Jose Daguio in Kalinga province (July 3, 2010);
• Miguel Belen of DWEB FM in Camarines Sur (July 9, 20100);
• Edilberto Cruz of Salida talboid in Nueva Ecija (August 1, 2010);
• Edison Falmeniana Sr. of Mindanao Inquirer inZamboanga Del Sur (December 10, 2010);
• Dr. Gerry Ortega of Puerto Princesa, Palawan (January 24, 2011);
• Cirilo Gallardo of DWWW FM in Abra (February 1, 2011);
• Len Flores Somera of DZME in Manila (March 24, 2011);
• Romeo Olea of DWEB-FM in Bicol (June 13, 2011);
• Neil Aranga Jimena of dyRP Iloilo and dyAG in Cadiz City (August 22, 2011);
• Datu Roy Quijada Gallego, a radio commentator in Caraga Region (October 14, 2011); and Alfredo “Dodong” Velarde Jr. of Brigada News in Gen. Santos City (November 11, 2011).

“Journalists die at a more serious and alarming rate these days. This is a sad fact,” said Egco, Manila Times’ assignments editor and chief of reporters. “The President must walk the talk. His campaign against corruption must include wiping out the inept and corrupt government officials and private individuals who caused the deaths of these journalists,” added Egco founded in 2005 the Association of Responsible Media (Armed), a group of journalists who advocate the use of firearms for protection. Meanwhile, NPC President Jerry Yap urged the government to go after the masterminds and perpetrators of journalists' murders.

"It is high time for the establishment of a more powerful ‘superbody’ on media killings that the President and Justice Secretary Leila De Lima initially supported but later abandoned for reasons unknown,” Yap said. Ugly trend Meanwhile, Afima President Benny Antiporda said the "frightful and ugly" trend in journalists' killings should be curbed by the government.

“There is an uptrend in media killings. Comparatively, the number of slain journalists under PNoy at this early was equivalent only to the number of journalists killed in almost three years of the Arroyo regime," Antiporda said.  "There is a huge difference. This is a wake-up call to the President, the Philippine National Police, the DOJ and all agencies concerned," Antiporda added. - VVP, GMA News