C. Valley mediamen want to carry guns

CAMP ADDURU, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan — Alarmed by the spate of killings of their colleagues elsewhere in the country, Cagayan Valley mediamen have this message to would-be attackers: Don’t dare hurt us.

This, as officers of the press corps covering the Cagayan Valley (Region 2) police approved a resolution in a meeting last Friday, requesting Chief Superintendent Jefferson Soriano, regional police director, to "help facilitate" the issuance of permits to carry firearms outside the residence to its legitimate members who own guns.

"The government’s proposal of arming legitimate mediamen is worthy of approval in the wake of widespread cruel killings of members of the Fourth Estate," stated the resolution filed by Leonardo Basilio, publisher of Mirror Scribe, and co-sponsored by Benz Selmo, provincial correspondent of the Daily Tribune.

The latest victim was Eduardo Balida, a commentator of Radio Mindanao Network’s local affiliate in Bukidnon, who was shot and wounded while he was on his way to work last Friday.

The attack on Balida follows the killing of four journalists within a span of two weeks. Police are investigating whether the killings were all work-related and said they would ease restrictions on gun permits for mediamen.

At least 47 Filipino journalists have been killed since democracy was restored in 1986.

Speaking in behalf of Soriano, Superintendent Albertlito Garcia, regional police community relations chief, assured the mediamen that he would endorse their resolution.

He, however, said mediamen who want to carry their guns outside their homes should comply with the necessary requirements.

"It’s good to note your concern about your personal safety while doing your job as members of the press," Garcia said, assuring the mediamen that the police are willing to provide them security in the face of threats to their lives.

"It’s our duty to protect you, press people, because you are part of the society which we are duty-bound to serve and protect," said Garcia, who was previously the intelligence and investigation chief of the Cagayan police.

STAR correspondent Lito Salatan, who is the president of both the Region 2 police press corps and the Isabela Press Club, said regional police authorities are doubly concerned about the safety of local mediamen, especially with President Arroyo’s order to Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes to crack the journalists’ killings.

Salatan is optimistic that Soriano would approve their resolution, saying the regional police director recognizes their efforts in sustaining the success of his "Pulis Ko" program.

The program has so far improved the efficiency of the police response to crime incidents, thus enhancing the image of the men in uniform.

"With the spate of violence against our colleagues in the profession, this resolution is very timely and serves as a stern warning to those with evil motives against mediamen in the region," Salatan said.

He, however, gave assurance that only qualified and practicing mediamen in the region will be endorsed by their press corps for the gun permits.