Ex-Justice defends judiciary on media killings issue

A retired magistrate has spoken out against presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, who said the judiciary should be pressured into resolving the spate of media killings. Former Sandiganbayan justice Raul Victorino said Lacierda's statement "may unfortunately perpetrate distrust, discord, and hostility" between the executive and judicial branches, which he said should be working together in addressing attacks against journalists. "As a retired justice of the Sandiganbayan, I deem it my duty — nay, my obligation likewise — to defend the judiciary from baseless and uncalled for criticisms, especially those coming from persons who are expected to protect and respect the institution," Victorino said in a statement. On Tuesday, Lacierda said that pressure for the speedy resolution of cases involving slain journalists should be trained not on the executive branch, but on the courts. He added that the executive has "done its best" on its duty to investigate the killings and prosecute and file cases against the suspects. However, Victorino said Lacierda showed "insensitivity by issuing this statement." "Worse, it sowed animosity toward a co-equal branch of government, which is its partner in resolving crimes against journalists and against the public in general," the anti-graft court's retired justice said. Lacierda's statement was in response to the call of the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists Inc. for President Benigno Aquino III to show political will and put an end to the culture of impunity that has led to the murder of journalists in the country. According to the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP), a total of 142 journalists had been killed in the country since 1986 when democracy was restored following the ouster of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos. – VVP, GMA News