The Department of Justice (DoJ) bears the heavy responsibility of restoring the country’s reputation and changing global perception of the Philippines as the world’s most dangerous country for journalists, an opposition lawmaker said Saturday.

Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto “TG” Guingona III said that the DoJ faces the challenge of resolving the killings of local journalists, including those who died in the November 23 massacre that has earned the Philippines the reputation of being the most dangerous place in the world for members of the Fourth Estate.

Guingona said Maguindanao massacre is a test case to the DoJ, especially with the whole world watching and waiting for the outcome of its ongoing investigation.

He expressed hope the massacre of 57 people, 31 of them journalists, would not suffer the same fate as other crimes against Filipino journalists.

“It is a deplorable justice system where 85 percent of these cases remain unresolved; no one has been brought to justice and made accountable for these crimes. Only around five cases have resulted in the conviction of the killers, though no masterminds have yet to be arrested in any of the murders,” Guingona lamented.

Guingona’s statement came after another international journalists’ group named the Philippines as the most dangerous country for journalists in 2009, with Mexico and Somalia trailing far behind.