Election heats up this early and the journalists take on the mission of information nevertheless.
In fact, journalist watch groups said the Philippines is the world’s third most dangerous place for media practitioners.
In its “Killing the Messenger” report, the London-based International News Safety Institute (INSI) said 14 journalists were killed in the Philippines last year. This is next to Syria with 20 journalists killed and Iraq with 16.
Also late last year, bullets effectively silenced three radio commentators in Mindanao within two weeks. Not one killer has been apprehended. In the Philippines, particularly here in Bohol, newspaper reporters as well as radio commentators are never immune to the death threats; three Boholano journalists have been proof of that.
In fact, this is still this persistent belief that broadcaster Chairman Mao Lim died because a hitman did him in following his attacks against drug protectors.
In a place where anyone can buy radio time and where part-time commentators attack or malign their enemies on air with no one organization to police them, the probability of death soars high.
With people still too juvenile to see that newspaper writers are just messengers. Those slighted by these perceived attacks, often resort to hiring professional killers to “silence” the commentator or news reporter, which is never really resolved.
The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) said that killing of journalists in the Philippines has remained unabated even during the present administration. “The apparent apathy of the government toward killings and attacks against press freedom emboldens attackers to inflict harm as they go unpunished,” the NUJP said in its Facebook page.
Now this hypes up a huge bit with elections looming.
For certain, politicians now want nothing but good image to go with their names. The same is true with governments.
Unfortunately however, journalists who still keep a high regard for their ideals keep the mission, as the loyalty to the public is never diminished by the flurry of campaigns.
Of course, with government fast becoming a cabal of dirty men whose inadequacies often see print or getting broadcasted, silencing these journalists become the first order of the day.
The silencing however comes in phases, depending in the gravity of the situation.
More so often, it starts with the critic ganged up by hacks whose ideals are paid by a few hundred pesos.
And the more crooked journalists are not into the pay; the media ID is as potent as a gun.
When journalists also gallivant into other sources of income, they often end up lumped in a baying bark team.
Then there is always that threat of libel. For governments, it is pressure in the weirdest form of threat.
Journalists especially news writers are, by job rules, never allowed to opine. The least they could do is quote a source, them being messengers of truth. So, a paper, or a broadcaster always relies on a source.
When a libel is cast over a journalist or a news organization, it is always a red flag.
This would always be seen as threatening the public’s access to information.
