Lawmakers support calls to arm journalists

MANILA, Philippines - Lawmakers expressed support yesterday for the proposal to allow legitimate members of media agencies to carry firearms for protection.

“Media men should be allowed to carry firearms to protect themselves, otherwise criminal elements will continue their dastardly act against the members of the fourth estate,” Laguna Rep. Danilo Ramon Fernandez said.

Fernandez was reacting to the killing of another journalist in Kalinga last Monday, considered to be the first murder of a newsman under the administration of President Aquino.

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility said 103 media practitioners were killed during the previous Arroyo administration.

He said if police authorities allow businessmen and other citizens to carry firearms, “media men who are also facing serious situations should be accorded the same treatment.”

“But only those responsible media people should be allowed to carry firearms after complying with certain requirements,” Fernandez said.

Buhay party-list Rep. Irwin Tieng said journalists who will be allowed to carry firearms should undergo training on gun handling.

Tieng said media men should also be given discounts in securing permits to carry firearms.

Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III, however, was cool to such proposals, saying arming journalists is not the right solution to the problem.

“Even if you arm the media, you cannot stop a criminal who is determined to kill,” Tañada said.

He said capturing the perpetrators, prosecuting and punishing them is the right direction to take.

“Justice Secretary Leila de Lima should launch a strong campaign to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators and I think once we start prosecuting them, attacks on media men will stop,” Tañada said.

He called for an exhaustive dialogue between the media and police authorities so they can agree on a more realistic solution.

“I believe the Philippine National Police and media practitioners can come out with a solution that is acceptable to both sides,” Tañada said.

He said the rise in media killings during the Arroyo administration is due to the “culture of impunity.”

The PNP earlier expressed willingness to help journalists on personal security matters, detection of surveillance, threat assessment and proficiency in gun handling.