Senator asks PNP to provide direct line to media amid killings

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Grace Poe on Tuesday called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to provide media professionals a direct line to police authorities in the wake of the increasing crimes against journalists.

In a Senate hearing, Superintendent Henry Libay reported that out of the 48 incidents of media killings recorded since 2001, only six were resolved with convictions.

“Media should have a direct line to the PNP. So that if there is any threat, they will feel they have protection,” Poe said during the hearing of the committee on public order and dangerous drugs with the committee on justice and human rights.

"Unfortunately, the police would be involved in some cases. It is important to establish a reliable direct line that the media can trust.Yung bulok na itlog sa kaing, yun ang nagpapasira. Hindi naman lahat kayo ganyan," the senator added.

Poe also called on the inter-agency commission on extrajudicial killings to submit a progress report to the committee and put a media representative to coordinate on its efforts.

Libay said 36 out of the 48 incidents of media killings have been filed in court: 12 on trial, six were archived, six were resolved with convictions, four were resolved with acquittal and five were dismissed by the courts.

State counsel Herminia Angeles assured the Senate that the current administration has been working on the cases of extra-judicial killings in coordination with the various government agencies including the PNP’s human rights unit and the National Bureau of Investigation.