Journalist to co-chair TF on media killings

MANILA, Philippines – To make the Task Force on Media Killings more relevant to the working press, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar has promised to offer the co-chairmanship to a media representative.

The task force will address issues surrounding violence committed against members of the Philippine press, which is considered the freest in Asia although ranking low in terms of media freedom due to the risks faced by Filipino journalists.

Andanar said his office has consulted the National Press Club, National Union of Journalists in the Philippines and other organizations on what should be done to stop the violence against media.

He also said the Presidential Communications Office is coordinating with the Department of Justice for legal concerns.

“As an interest group, it would be more relevant if the task force gives primary role to the media to make it more relevant and not just a mere piece of paper,” Andanar said over dzBB yesterday.

In the 2016 World Press Freedom Index, the country ranked 138th – making it one of the countries with “very difficult” press situations in the world.

Reporters Without Borders, the media watchdog behind the index, noted that while the ranking was an improvement from 141st in 2015, those behind the killing of journalists “usually go unpunished.

Since 1992, the Committee to Protect Journalists listed 77 journalists killed in the country, while the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility listed 222 deaths since 1986.