JDV helps mobilize Press Freedom Fund

House Speaker Jose de Vene—cia met last week with leaders of four major media organizations to mobilize the Press Freedom Fund for the protection of Filipino journalists nationwide and set up an industry-wide Quick-Reaction Task Force.

During the meeting held at his Makati City residence, De Venecia, a former Manila correspondent of Pan Asia, the first regional wire service agency, donated P100,000 to the Press Freedom Fund.

He said the amount is the first tranche of the P1-million reward money he earlier had promised to help solve the killings of journalists.

De Venecia asked Cavite Rep. Gilbert Remulla, chairman of the House committee on public information, to raise another P1 million from House members to beef up the Press Freedom Fund.

Just like in his successful Bayanihan Fund drive, he said he hopes for a strong private sector response to boost the Press Freedom Fund to P10 million or more.

"This will send a strong signal to all that we are serious in this new effort to extend protection to Filipino journalists, especially those facing harassment and danger in the line of duty," he said.

Melinda de Jesus, executive director of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, received De Venecia’s donation on behalf of the other media organizations.

She said the Press Freedom Fund, launched two years ago, lacks financial resources for the speedy prosecution of suspects in journalists’ killings.

Those who attended the meeting included Antonio Antonio, president of the National Press Club; Benjie Murillo and Chando Morallos, members of the NPC’s press freedom committee; Carlos Conde, secretary general of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines; Jose Pavia, executive director of the Philippine Press Institute; and Rudolph S. E. Jularbal, director of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas.