Koko Pimentel wants protection for journalists

Amid the rising number of media killings, Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Friday appealed for ample protection for journalists, especially those with death threats. "I appeal to President Aquino to instruct the Philippine National Police (PNP) to provide adequate security to media personalities who may have incurred the wrath of powerful and influential people through hard-hitting commentaries in both print and broadcast media," Pimentel said. He made the statement five days after former broadcaster Neil Aranga Jimena of Negros Occidental was gunned down by unidentified assailants last Monday. "I condemn in the strongest possible terms the latest assault against press freedom. Even if you're a hard-hitting journalist or commentator, you should not be under attack," he said, adding that Jimena's death is already the fourth journalist killing under the Aquino administration. The Committee to Protect Journalists had listed at least three Filipino journalists killed in 2011, including:

• Gerardo Ortega of Radio Mindanao Network-Palawan, January 24;
• Maria Len Flores Somera of dzME, shot in Malabon City, March 24; and
• Romeo Olea of dwEB in Iriga City in Camarines Sur, June 13.

Also, Pimentel said 107 journalists were slain under the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo administration, including the 32 who were killed in the Maguindanao massacre in Nov. 2009. "If present trends continue, we may yet achieve the dubious distinction of being the most dangerous place in the world for journalists. President Aquino must put a stop to the culture of impunity by ordering law enforcement authorities to be relentless in running after the perpetrators and masterminds of killings of media people," he said. — Kimberly Jane Tan/LBG, GMA News