EDITORIAL - A task force for journalists

Previous administrations also had one: a task force to probe deadly attacks on journalists and come up with measures to discourage the killings. Yesterday, the Duterte administration announced the creation of its own task force. Perhaps the campaign to end this threat to press freedom will fare better in the time of Oplan Tokhang.

Failure to bring killers to justice has bred impunity, putting the Philippines consistently among the five most dangerous countries for journalists. The failure is due to the fact that many of the hundreds of journalist killings since democracy was restored in 1986 were believed perpetrated by political kingpins, police and military officers – people who could influence all or certain pillars of the criminal justice system.

Even crime gang leaders such as gambling barons, smugglers and drug dealers can pay authorities including prosecutors and judges to look the other way, sit on cases or set suspects free. As the nation is seeing, several politicians, police and military personnel themselves are involved in these criminal activities. If the Duterte administration can go after these public officials for drug dealing, it should be able to hold them accountable for murdering journalists.

President Duterte himself, when he was mayor of Davao City, was suspected of involvement in the murder of one of his critics, radio broadcaster Jun Pala. The President has repeatedly denied the accusation, but revived the issue when he said corruption made certain journalists targets for assassination.

After getting off on the wrong footing with the national media, Duterte has since normalized his ties with the press. He became the first Chief Executive to pass a freedom of information policy in the executive branch and has promised to persuade his congressional allies to pass an FOI law. Journalists are still waiting for the implementing rules for the FOI policy, which will contain exemptions, but it is significant that the executive order was one of the first to be issued by the President.

The creation of the task force to focus on solving journalist killings is just the latest measure approved by President Duterte to promote the welfare of media workers. Perhaps under his watch, the task force will accomplish its mission.