Duterte’s remarks placed journos in danger, media groups say

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte's declaration that Filipino journalists get killed because they are corrupt placed members of the media in harm's way, journalists' associations said on Tuesday night.

Ryan Rosauro, chairman of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), said the incoming Chief Executive's "appalling" pronouncements indicate that it was okay to kill journalists if they were corrupt.

"Mr. Duterte’s crass pronouncement not only sullies the names and memories of all 176 of our colleagues who have been murdered since 1986, he has also, in effect, declared open season to silence the media, both individual journalists and the institution, on the mere perception of corruption," Rosauro said in a statement.

While conceding that corruption was among the pressing problems faced by media, and that some private individuals may have taken revenge on errant journalists for being unjustly pilloried, the NUJP chair however pointed out that in majority of these killings that have made it to the courts,  the accused were either elected officials, government executives or members of the security services who were "accused of corruption".

Rosauro also pointed to the most egregious of these killings—the Maguindanao or Ampatuan massacre. "We wonder if the President-elect is willing to face the orphans and widows of the victims of these killings and tell them, 'They were killed because they were corrupt,'" he asked.

"[L]eadership, or even its mere semblance, carries weight and what leaders say, right or wrong, seriously or in jest, will resound with their followers. Thus, even if this be jest, and we see no reason to believe this was the case, your words may well be interpreted as marching order by those with an axe to grind against a critical press," Rosauro explained.

Nevertheless, the NUJP chair vowed that journalists would not be cowed from fulfilling their duty.

"Murder is no joke. Neither is press freedom," he said.

Paul Gutierrez, president of the National Press Club, also believed that Duterte's remarks seemed to justify media killings.

"While we acknowledge that there are also rotten members of the press similar to other professions like in the PNP and most especially among politicians, to simplify media killing as due to corruption in the press is to gloss over the fact that media killings happen due to the still prevalent culture of impunity," Gutierrez said.

"This branding of the media would only justify more attacks against them," he added.

Gutierrez said Duterte's remarks were "too sweeping, generalized and therefore unfair to the victims in particular like Doc Gerry Ortega, the Ampatuan victims and to the entire profession in general."

Gutierrez was referring to environmentalist and radio broadcaster Ortega, who was killed in January 2011. Then Palawan Governor Joel Reyes and his brother then Coron Mayor Mario Reyes have been arrested in connection with the slay.

He also made reference to the dozens of journalists killed in the Maguindanao massacre in 2009.

"Wala pang nabibigyan ng katarungan sa mga napaslang na kasapi ng media partikular sa nakaraang anim na taon. Kaya mas malalakas ang loob ng mga nagbabalak ng karahasan laban sa media," Gutierrez said.

In a news conference in Davao City on Tuesday, Duterte said that most journalists who were murdered were corrupt, having accepted bribes from personalities but proceeded to criticize them in the media.

"Karamihan 'yan, alam mo 'yan nabigyan na, especially if you want to take sides, nabayaran mo na tapos you play. 'Yan ang karamihan ng namatay. Or tumatanggap na sa mga sugarol tapos bira pa rin," Duterte said.

Duterte made the remark when asked about his administration's policy on media killings.

"You really want the truth? 'Yun ang truth," Duterte.

Duterte stressed that journalists who are not engaged in any questionable activities will never be put in danger.

“Kasi kung journalist ka na tama, wala namang gagalaw sa iyo, especially if it is true. I mean, you cannot hide the truth, by the way, “ he said. — NB/DVM/KG, GMA News