By SAMMY JULIAN
Manila News Bureau Chief
MANILA – As far as President Benigno Aquino III is concerned, his administration’s track record in addressing extrajudicial killings of journalists speaks for itself.
Speaking during a recent press briefing with US President Barack Obama in Malacañang, Aquino cited the prosecution of those implicated in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre that killed 58 journalists and civilians.
He also said he has created a committee to examine extrajudicial killings and is prosecuting those implicated in journalists’ deaths.
“The track record speaks for itself,” Aquino said.
At the same time, the President pointed out that several cases of journalist killings were not work-related.
Out of respect for the victims and their families, authorities do not disclose what they discover about “other issues,” the President said.
Aquino said those who accuse his government of stifling dissent should look at the local media where he said criticism of the government is tolerated.
An international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights earlier called on President Obama to use his visit to Manila to press the Philippine government to fulfill pledges to improve respect for human rights and accountability for serious abuses.
New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a letter to the US leader that although the administration of President Aquino has undertaken reform efforts in some areas, it failed to match rhetoric with meaningful action to end impunity for extrajudicial killings, torture and enforced disappearances.
Last year alone, HRW noted a major surge in killings of journalists in the Philippines. It said 12 were killed in 2013, bringing to 26 the total number of media workers killed since Aquino took office in 2010. In only six of those cases have police even arrested suspects.
“The Philippines remains a risky place to be an outspoken activist or muckraking journalist,” said John Sifton, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. “People taking on powerful local interests all too frequently make the news as victims, and those responsible for killings are almost never prosecuted.”/PN
