N.B. – This is the statement of concerned faculty and staff of the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication led by Dean Roland Tolentino on four journalists shot in just as a span of two weeks. Please feel free to share. Thank you.
End the Regime of Impunity
Statement of Concerned Faculty and Staff
of the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication
on Four Journalists Shot In a Span of Two Weeks
December 20, 2013
As we marked the International Human Rights Day last December 10, we were also reminded that the freedom of expression is still under attack in the Philippines with the recent cases of violence against community journalists. We are deeply concerned about the nature of these attacks, the frequency of their occurrence, and the brazenness with which they were carried out.
In a span of two weeks, four journalists were shot in separate incidents — three died while one sustained minor wounds. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines identified the fatalities as Rogelio Butalid of Tagum City, Michael Milo of Tandag City and Joas Dignos of Valencia City. All these murders took place in Mindanao, the region of many media killings in the past, including the infamous Ampatuan massacre in November 2009. On the other hand, Jhonavin Villalba of Iloilo City cheated death despite several shots fired by two men on a motorcycle.
We condemn these media murders and the attempt to kill a community broadcaster. We take to task the Philippine government for its failure to provide a condition in which journalists could work without facing reprisals. The government’s recent statement that it is committed to promote human rights and the people’s right to know was never matched by actions to ensure an environment where the media can freely perform their tasks vital to a democracy, that is, to circulate opinions and hold powerful persons accountable.
Statistics on media murders released by press organizations suggest that the state of press freedom has deteriorated in the country. The government’s coldness toward this reality, as indicated by its inability to end the apparent impunity of killers of journalists, raises an issue of legitimacy of governance. How could the government ever claim that it listens to the voices of its citizens when it could not even guarantee that such voices, including discordant ones, could be heard?
The University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication stands with media organizations and human rights groups to demand the end to sustained harassment and violence against media practitioners. We pledge to tirelessly support their efforts to demand that justice be served to all victims of media violence. We seek an end to a regime of impunity.
COLLEGE OFFICIALS
Dr. Roland B. Tolentino, Dean
Prof. Danilo A. Arao, Associate Dean
Prof. Lucia Tangi, Chair, Department of Journalism
Prof. Roehl L. Jamon, Director, UP Film Institute
FACULTY
Broadcast Communication Department
Dr. Elizabeth L. Enriquez
Dr. Eulalio R. Guieb, III
Journalism Department
Prof. Rachel Khan
Dr. Diosa Labiste
LECTURER
Broadcast Communication Department
Ms. Melba S. Estonilo
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AND REPS
Marianita P. Cinco
Rosalita S. Burlat
Clarissa S. Concepcion