Intl group: Press freedom in PHL has improved but remains 'troubled'

Press freedom in the Philippines has improved last year although it remains "troubled" because of attacks on journalists, the United States-based group Freedom House said. Freedom House, in its survey marking World Press Freedom Day, said "The score for the Philippines recovered somewhat, having dropped in 2009 due to that year’s Ampatuan massacre, which claimed the lives of 32 journalists and media workers." "Nevertheless, the country was still troubled in 2010 by the murder and intimidation of journalists, and impunity for such crimes remained the norm," Freedom House said. Freedom House said Bangladesh and the Philippines "registered modest improvements" in the Asia-Pacific region. A world press freedom map produced by the group showed the Philippines is among 65 countries that are "partly free." These "partly free" countries have a total population of 2.87 billion, it said. In contrast, 68 countries with a population of 1.03 billion are considered "free" while 63 countries with a population of 2.98 billion are considered "not free." Killings of media professionals Among the high-profile killings of journalists in the Philippines this year was that of Gerardo Ortega, of dwAR/Radyo Mo Nationwide in Palawan, on January 24. "Ortega, 47, had received recent death threats from an unknown source ... The journalist had criticized local officials accused of corruption and had opposed provincial mining projects, news reports said," Committee to Protect Journalists said. FOI bill Meanwhile, a group lamented the Philippine Freedom of Information (FOI) bill is fast becoming an “orphaned cause in government" as its enactment is "being stalled." The Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition said this is casting doubts on the Aquino administration’s sincerity in instituting transparency in government. “Pardon us, Mr. President, but we could not help but think that all too suddenly, save for a few consistent voices in Congress, the FOI bill has become an orphaned cause in government, a bill without fathers, mothers, friends, advocates, and champions under your administration," the group said in a May 2 letter to President Benigno Simeon Aquino III. Excerpts of the letter were posted Monday night on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site. In its letter signed by more than 150 representatives of FOI advocates, the group lamented the Aquino administration has not substantially responded to the widespread clamor for the passage of the FOI bill despite repeated appeals. “Three times we have written and three times, too, we have failed to receive substantial positive feedback from you or your deputies regarding our appeal," the group said. “Please understand, Mr. President, that absent positive developments, or even public statements, on how your administration intends and wishes to help enact the FOI Act – we are given no reason to remain hopeful. With all due respect, Mr. President, during your first 10 months in office the FOI bill has achieved no breakthroughs. And this is despite a long, congenial, and substantial meeting that we had months ago in Malacañang where the three Cabinet secretaries of your Communications Group assured us of their support for the FOI bill," it added. The coalition also reminded Aquino of his “Social Contract with the Filipino People," which hinges at the FOI bill’s passage as the bedrock in instituting good governance, transparency, accountability and responsive delivery of public services." It feared the FOI bill will be forgotten because even the President’s own Liberal Party allies “could not make the FOI bill move in the 15th Congress with as much resolve as they had demonstrated in the 14th Congress." “We believe that a key reason for the lack of progress on the FOI bill in Congress is the perceived lack of decisive support for it from the Executive branch, in particular, from the President," the coalition said. The FOI bill is still pending in the Committee of Public Information both in the Senate and House of Representatives. It was ratified in the Senate in the 14th Congress but failed in the House of Representatives then dominated by allies of then President Gloria Arroyo. Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma also demanded the passage of the FOI bill. “The Freedom of Information Bill is a demand of the times, a vote of good governance, democracy, truth, transparency and accountability. We believe that its passage will empower citizens to help in jump starting the process of renewal of our democratic institutions," Ledesma said. - VVP, GMA News