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Baguio media light candles vs. killings

BAGUIO CITY (June 1) — Baguio mass media protested against the escalating killings of media people in the country in a candle lighting ceremony at the Roman Catholic Cathedral grounds, here, braving the rains and thunderstorm on May 31.

This activity, which coincided with the burial of the latest victim, Fernando “Dong” Batul, a radioman in Palawan, was part of a nationally-coordinated action of media groups led by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), the largest media organization in the country affiliated with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

Batul is the fifth journalist killed this year and the 79th since 1986.

“The numbers speak for themselves,” Artemio Dumlao Jr., NUJP-Baguio-Benguet chair stressed. He added that majority of journalists were killed during the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) administration. He said that out of 79, 42 were killed under the GMA government, 17 under Corazon Aquino, 15 under Fidel Ramos and five under Joseph Estrada.

NUJP data show that the GMA administration has already outdone the media death toll of 34 journalists killed under the 14-year Marcos dictatorship. Three journalists in the Cordillera and Ilocos regions were killed during GMA’s term. They are Stephen Omaois from Kalinga, and Romy Sanchez and Roger Mariano of La Union and Ilocos Sur, respectively.

Atty. Pablito Sanidad, national chair of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), stressed that the candle lighting should be the last and the killings must stop. He added that the killings should not cow the media and should not discourage those who are yet to enter the profession, the campus journalists.

“When will I see a freer press?” Sanidad posed as he compared the killings with those during the Marcos dictatorship. He added that this era is worse than the martial law years.

Bishop Carlito Cenzon of the Roman Catholic Church Baguio-Benguet vicariate led prayers for the victims of political killings not only those from the media but also for progressive leaders and activists. He also prayed for courage and protection for the Baguio press people as they continue to do their job.

Atty. Delmar Cariño, president of the Benguet Press Corps, added that journalists should organize their ranks and continue to do their job as the fourth estate. He reiterated, “the killing of journalists is depriving the people of their right to information.”

Mayette Iniguid, from a campus publication, said that campus journalists should not be frightened by the killings but instead challenge them to take on the task of informing and educating the public about the burning issues of today. She said campus journalists should also write about issues outside their campuses because the nation’s concerns are also the students’ concerns.

NUJP earlier called on all journalists to fight back using their profession as it lamented government’s “lameduck” effort to curb the killings of journalists.

“Let us cease to be just observers and recorders to the death of democracy,” said Jose Torres Jr., NUJPdirector and spokesperson .

Over 35 campus and professional journalists, Bishop Cenzon and Atty. Sanidad joined the activity.
The candles remained aflame despite the rain shower, just as their call to stop the killings and to uphold press freedom. # Kim Ngabit Quitasol with reports from Ace Alegre for NORDIS

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