TOKYO (via Smart/PLDT) – Amid concerns aired by international organizations, President Aquino has vowed to relentlessly pursue the perpetrators of media killings in the country.
“We cannot promise that there will never be any shooting (or) killing of anybody. What we can promise is we will never stop in trying to come up with the suspects,†he told reporters here Friday night on the sidelines of the 40th Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Japan Commemorative Summit.
Aquino said he is aware that justice delayed is justice denied even as he gave assurance that witnesses would be protected.
“A crime or any crime for that matter you commit under this administration, we will (be) dead set to get you,†he said.
The delegation of the European Union in the country reminded the Philippines of the resolution of the European Parliament calling on the Philippines to take further measures to end impunity for extra-judicial killings, including the Maguindanao massacre, and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The EU delegation added that they take note of the assurances of authorities that the Philippine National Police will take immediate action to bring all those responsible for the killings to justice.
US Ambassador Philip Goldberg said he is also “deeply concerned†and “saddened†by the slaying of at least three journalists in just two weeks.
“The US supports press freedom and human rights,†he said.
Unidentified men shot dead Rogelio Butalid outside his radio station in Tagum, Davao del Norte on Wednesday, a few days after radio broadcaster Michael Diaz Milo was gunned down in Tandag, Surigao del Sur.
Motorcycle-riding armed men in Bukidnon gunned down radio commentator Joas Dignos on Nov. 29.
Other side of the coin
The President, however, said “the other side of the coin†must also be considered, citing the need to come up with a more “holistic approach†such that people would learn to settle differences civilly and not take the law into their own hands.
“But having said that, there’s still a crime committed regardless of the motivation, and these people would have to be brought before the bars of justice and government has not stopped doing that,†Aquino said.
He said the filing of charges should not be the measure of success as much as the conviction.
“Up to now we really want conviction that will send the message you do a crime you pay the price,†he said.
He said the government would also impose strict guidelines on the use of firearms to immediately pinpoint the suspects.
Aquino said “Oplan Katok†was implemented to account for firearms and their owners while a new gun law sets more stringent requirements before a private person could own guns.
“Everybody undergoes it and... the ballistics, it’s really going to fine-tune the system... to identify what firearm was used,†he said.
He said the prosecution of the Maguindanao massacre case is also expected to be faster with the increase in the number of judges.
Uphold rule of law
In Washington, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called on the Aquino administration to uphold the rule of law and bring an end to “the killing spree of journalists†in the country.
“The killing of three journalists and shooting of another in two weeks painfully reaffirms the Philippines’ reputation as one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a reporter,†said Shawn Crispin, the New York-based CPJ’s senior Southeast Asia representative.
“Until the murderers of journalists are regularly brought to justice and the cycle of impunity is broken, the violence will inevitably continue,†he said.
“How many more journalists must be murdered before President Aquino’s government takes seriously the scale of his country’s impunity problem?†Crispin asked.
– Aurea Calica, Pia Lee-Brago, Jose Katigbak