Philippines still among worst countries in prosecuting killers of journalists —CPJ

The Philippines is still ranked 7th among the worst countries in prosecuting killers of journalists, based on the 2022 Global Impunity Index of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

CPJ, a New York-based nonprofit organization for press freedom, said in its report released Tuesday that there are 14 unsolved cases of murders of journalists in the country.

It added that there are fears that the culture of violence and impunity would continue in the country under the administration of President “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. following the recent killing of Percival Mabasa, also known as Percy Lapid, and Renato Blanco.

Sought for comment, Department of Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano said the index will not stop the Marcos administration from investigating and prosecuting the killing and harassment of journalists.

“We understand the importance of good journalism and we will take concrete steps in protecting those that simply want to keep the government and its officials in check. It is a right we must respect and preserve,” Clavano said in a message to reporters.

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) said that most of the reported cases have already been fully investigated, with cases already filed in court. It said it would work with the judiciary to prioritize these cases.

PTFoMS added that it is already working with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and media groups to develop guidelines on how law enforcement agencies can protect media workers.

"The Marcos administration, through the PTFoMS, will continue to remain proactive and unwavering in its mandate to defend media freedom in the Philippines by protecting the life, liberty, and security of media workers," it said.

"We remind all journalists, broadcasters, and media practitioners to report any incident of threat and harassment so that the matter can be thoroughly and swiftly investigated. The PTFoMS can also provide any journalist or media worker with real-time police security." 

GMA News Online has reached out to Office of the Press Secretary officer-in-charge Atty. Cheloy Garafil for Malacañang's comment, but she has yet to respond as of posting time.

In a separate statement, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippine said despite potential differences with how government agencies like the Philippine National Police classify cases, "the lack of convictions adds to making journalism a dangerous profession in the Philippines."

It said the cases add to the nearly 80% of 263 journalist murders around the world over the past decade that nobody has been held accountable for.

"While we welcome initiatives by government to engage with journalists and to look into their safety and security, NUJP holds that the resolution of cases of attacks against our colleagues as well as the assurance that threats against us will be taken seriously are among the best ways to ensure that we can report without fear of reprisal," the NUJP said.

The NUJP expressed hope that the CPJ findings would not be dismissed as propaganda and would instead prompt the government to redouble efforts to solve the cases.

Somalia, according to CPJ's index, remained at the top spot of the index for the eighth straight year, while Myanmar made its first appearance in the index at the eighth spot.

The following are the ranking of the worst countries in prosecuting killers of journalists with their respective number of unsolved murders:

1. Somalia (19 unsolved murders of journalists)
2. Syria (16)
3. South Sudan (5)
4. Afghanistan (17)
5. Iraq (17)
6. Mexico (28)
7. Philippines (14)
8. Myanmar (5)
9. Brazil (13)
10. Pakistan (9)
11. India (20)

According to CPJ’s 2022 index, no one has been held to account in almost 80% of 263 media killings during the last 10 years while the governments showed “little interest” in addressing them.

It said that the “vast majority of killers of journalists continue to get away with murder.”

“In nearly 80% of the 263 cases of journalists murdered in retaliation for their work globally over the past decade, the perpetrators have faced no punishment,” CPJ added.

CPJ’s Global Impunity Index calculates the number of unsolved journalist murders as a percentage of each country’s population, according to the organization.

For this index, researchers checked unsolved journalist murders that happened between September 1, 2012, and August 31, 2022.

Only those countries with five or more unsolved cases are included in the index, according to CPJ. —with Joahna Lei Casilao and Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK/AOL/VBL, GMA News