EDITORIAL - Resurgent attacks

After a drastic drop last year, attacks on journalists are again on the rise. There was only one deadly attack on a journalist in 2007. In recent months there have been three. Fausto Bert Sison was a block timer of radio station dzAT in Quezon, Dennis Cuesta worked for dxMD-Radio Mindanao Network in General Santos City, and Martin Roxas was a reporter of RMN in Roxas City.

Over the weekend, former radio broadcaster Ronald Julian was shot dead in Camarines Sur. Julian left his job in station dzGE to work for the municipal government of Magarao when his brother Nelson was elected mayor in 2004. The murder may not be linked to Julian’s old job as a broadcaster, but the only way to know is by catching the killers.

Whether the victims are journalists, left-wing militants or other citizens, one of the strongest deterrents to murder is the arrest of the perpetrators. If potential killers — triggermen and masterminds alike — believe there is a strong possibility that they won’t be able to get away with murder, the plot will likely remain in the planning stage or will be abandoned.

Each unsolved murder or kidnapping of journalists and militants encourages more attacks. Last year, what human rights advocates have described as a growing culture of impunity appeared to be crumbling as only one journalist and five militants were reported killed in work-related attacks. The sharp drop from the 41 cases reported in 2006 may be attributed to the condemnation heaped on the Philippine government by a human rights rapporteur sent to Manila by the United Nations to investigate reports of unexplained killings involving mostly left-wing activists and journalists.

Now the attacks on journalists have resurged. Each case is unique and the motive for the attack may not be work-related. But whatever the motive, the killers must be caught and sent to prison. When someone plans to pump bullets into a journalist, he should worry about the slim chance of getting away with his crime.