NBI vows to stop media killings

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday vowed to boost the administration’s efforts to stop media killings.

In a statement, NBI Director Dante Gierran warned those who will harass or threaten media workers and vowed to end “the culture of impunity, which has plagued the country for decades.”

Gierran said the NBI is working closely with the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFMS) in monitoring online threats and other crimes against media workers.

“The secretary of justice also issued a marching order for the NBI to go after the killers of media workers,” he said.

The PTFMS said at least nine media workers have been killed since President Duterte assumed office in 2016.

They were Apolinario Suan Jr., Larry Que, Mario Contaoi, Marlon Muyco, Joaquin Briones, Rudy Alicaway, Leo Diaz, Chris Lozada and Edmund Sestoso.

The PTFMS said it was also looking into the reported harassment against The STAR reporter Edu Punay, who received threats through text messages in May.