UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization head Director-General Koichiro Matsuura called on the Philippine government for immediate action on the killing of dzJC-Aksyon Radio correspondent Roger Mariano this week, as well as other work-related violence committed against Philippine journalists.

“The link between a free and independent press and democracy cannot be overstated. Intimidation and murder of journalists is therefore a crime against society as a whole, not just against the individuals targeted,” Matsuura said.

“It is essential that the perpetrators of this cowardly act be brought to justice especially as the murder appears to be a cold-blooded attempt to silence a critical voice,” he added.

Ambassador Jan de Kok of the European Commission, meanwhile, condemned the killing of dzRH correspondent Arnel Manalo that happened also this week.

“We are concerned that he was killed in the line of duty. These killings should not happen in a democracy like the Philippines. It is really alarming,” de Kok said.

A sad commentary

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. (PDP-Laban)  yesterday said the cold-blooded slaying of two working journalists in less than a week’s time reflects badly on the law and order condition and the state of press freedom in the country.

Pimentel condemned the murder of Arnel Manalo, 42, correspondent of the tabloid Bulgar and radio station DZRH, who was gunned down by two unidentified men along the national highway in Bauan, Batangas Friday.

Only four days before, Senators Pimentel, Jamby Madrigal and Alfredo Lim filed Senate Resolution 28, calling for a Senate investigation of the murder of broadcaster Roger Mariano of Ilocos Norte. They also sought the institution of reforms to protect media practitioners in the exercise of the freedom of the press.

“It is a sad commentary on the state of law enforcement and the respect for the rule of law in this country. It is also a manifestation that people would now take the law into their own hands rather than litigate, peacefully and civilly in accordance with our legal procedures, controversies involving persons,” Pimentel said.

The opposition senator from Mindanao challenged law enforcers to go after the killers of crusading journalists as forcefully and doggedly as they hunted down and captured more than a hundred kidnappers since January and scores of Abu Sayyaf terrorists over the last few years.

“While more than 100 kidnappers have been neutralized, not a single one among the suspects in the killing of journalists has been apprehended. Of course, this sends not only a chilling but freezing message to the profession of journalism in this country, that practicing journalists are no longer safe in expressing their views relative to the actuations especially of government officials,” Pimentel said.