Page 38 - Hello Philippines February 2016 'B' issue

38 www.hello-philippines.com NEWS February 2016 / Fortnightly – No. 4 • UK & Europe Edition

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MANILA – The Asia-Pacific region “Pakistan, which was the worst recurring finding of our reports that

is home to three countries -- the ranked country in 2014 in terms of there are many more killed in peace

Philippines is one -- that are among the journalist killings, ranks fourth in the time situations than in war-stricken

10 deadliest nations for journalists, an IFJ list with 115 journalists killed” countries.”

international media organization said. while India was “the third Asia-Pacific The report noted that even as “the

The two others are India and Pakistan. country in the top ten, sitting at seventh struggle for democracy and freedom

The International Federation of with 95 journalists killed since 1990” as of expression has witnessed a massive

Journalists and its Australian affiliate, it “continues to struggle violence and expansion of independent media and

the Media, Entertainment and Arts impunity.” unions in the region, the killings have

Alliance, also said the Philippines is “When the IFJ began collecting also spiked.”

the “deadliest peacetime country” in records on journalist casualties 25 years 2009 proved to be “the worst

the world for journalists, at the launch ago, one could be mistaken for thinking year on record” with 152 killings,
of the “IFJ 25th Killed List report, the Asia-Pacific was a relatively safe highlighted by the Ampatuan massacre MEAA CEO Paul Murphy, IFJ general secretary Anthony Bellanger and Australian journalist Mark Davis launch
Journalists and Media Staff Killed place for media. In those early years, on November 23 that year in which 58 the IFJ 25th Killed List report in Sydney. (photo from IFJ)

1990-2015: 25 years of contribution the official record of journalists killed persons, 32 of them media workers, impunity for the killers of journalists, the public interest. Some 21 government

towards Safer Journalism” in Sydney each year made single digit figures,” the were slaughtered in Maguindanao when they create laws to imprison agencies can secretly access journalists’

Thursday. report said. province in what has been officially journalists and their sources for telling telecommunications data to persecute

“The report charts the trajectory of But today, “the region today ranks acknowledged as the single deadliest the truth, when they put up barriers and prosecute whistleblowers,” he

the safety crisis in journalism globally, as the most lethal places globally to attack on the press ever recorded and to the public’s right to know -- then said. “Increasingly, the Australian

including a regional report card for the work as a journalist with a total of 571 the worst incident of electoral violence governments not only undermine government is cloaking its activities in

Asia-Pacific on the state of journalism deaths and regional average of 23 a in recent Philippine history. democracy but they send a signal that it secrecy, punishing whistleblowers with

safety over that period,” the IFJ said. year. The most likely cause of death for The IFJ scored the general lack is ok to target journalists,” Paul Murphy, prison, and denying the public the right

The IFJ represents more than a media worker is shooting; followed by of attention to “the levels of violence MEAA CEO. “That is what is happening to be informed of what the government

600,000 media workers around the explosions, vehicle accidents, stabbings against journalists around the world, around the world. It’s also happening in is doing in our name.”

world. Its Philippine affiliate is the and bashings,” it added. with just one of 10 killings being Australia.” “Everyone who comes into contact

National Union of Journalists of the IFJ general secretary, Anthony investigated. The lack of action to Aside from the inaction on media with journalists need to respect their

Philippines. Bellanger, who attended the report’s eradicate the impunity for killings and killings, he noted that in Australia, independence. It requires governments

Since it began monitoring media launch said: “There are many ways other attacks on media professionals “laws have been created in the past 18 to comply with their international

murders around the world in 1990, journalists are being targeted, often continues to fuel violence targeting months that criminalize journalists and obligations by investigating journalists’

the IFJ said, the Philippines has removed from the war theater, many them.” their journalism.” killings and bringing those responsible

become “the second deadliest country of whom are victims of organized “When governments show disdain “Journalists face lengthy sentences to justice,” Bellanger said. n InterAksyon.com

worldwide with 146 killings.” crime and corrupt officials. It is a for press freedom, when they grant for publishing legitimate news stories in / February 12, 2016 / 8:15 am
OPINION With rising radicalism, keep peace even with non-passage of BBL: International Alert
WE welcome the announcement of This gains urgency in the wake of the private sector. We urge regional and MILF or those who support the BBL, let
the government and the Moro Islamic As we await a new government and for frustration over the BBL’s non-approval local government officials to continue us take these as our prompt to study
Liberation Front (MILF) to sustain the the 17th Congress to be constituted, let us and rising radicalism among Moro youth. pursuing growth plans and to always the BBL.
peace process despite the non-passage stress the importance of sustaining the prioritize the welfare of their people.
of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law development of Muslim Mindanao. Data shows that despite higher For truly, for Muslim Filipinos, it
(BBL) in the 16th Congress. investments by the Aquino government, In this respect, we commend regional represents their best chance at self-
With or without a new law, livelihoods economic growth of the Autonomous officials’ promise to forge ahead with determination, and our best chance for
As they contemplate their next moves, must be created. Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) development plans despite the lack of a peace in Muslim Mindanao. n International
we urge them to take the opportunity to remains among the slowest and its poverty BBL and municipal-level initiatives to draw
dialogue with groups that felt excluded Rally outside the Senate urging the passage of the incidence among highest in the country. investments to the localities. Alert, one of the world’s leading peacebuilding
when the Comprehensive Agreement BBL, 29 January 2016. InterAksyon File Photo
on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the basis of In its remaining months in office, the We also commend businesses that have organizations, with 30 years of experience laying the
the BBL, and the BBL were drafted. We Aquino government must continue to chosen to set up shop in the ARMM despite
encourage them to meet with legislators, pour in funds that the region needs while many uncertainties. foundations for peace, helps people find peaceful
especially those who opposed the BBL, the incoming government must heed the
as they will scrutinize the bill when it is region’s growth requirements. But as disappointment over the BBL solutions to conflict. International Alert began
refiled in the 17th Congress. mixes with election-related political
An equal burden of developing the tensions, flash points are likely. working in the Philippines in 1988 and is now focused
ARMM, however, rests on its leaders and
Rather than blame or condemn the on addressing vertical and horizontal conflict in

Mindanao through research and analyses, advocacy,

capacity-building, and facilitation of multi-stakeholder

processes / February 7, 2016 / 12:51 pm

Extortionist-cabbie forces passengers to hand over cellphones as payment
AUTHORITIES warned yung kasama ko po, buntis po ‘yun inano. So ‘yun, napa-isip na ako na ay, authorized driver. summoned by the LTFRB.

commuters of a new modus by eh. Binigay na lang po niya,” Tomale modus na po ‘to,” Tomale said. The actual driver of the cab has yet “Ang sabi nung driver, ‘hindi ko

unscrupulous taxi drivers who not only continued. Gretchen Pugales, another victim to be identified. po ginawa ‘yun’. May ano ako, may

charge exorbitant fares but also force According to the 19-year-old, he and of the gang which authoritites have Merely Fukuta, the taxi operator, lesson, na kailangan yung mga driver,

their victims to hand over their phones his companion were offered a rate of christened the “bayad cellphone gang”, told the LTFFRB that Rosajelos insisted bago tanggapin, busisiin yung mga
as payment. P30 per kilometer for a trip to Buendia said she was locked inside the taxi until that he knew nothing of the crime.
requirements at background,” Fukuta
Mark Kevin Tomale told GMA News by a taxi dispatcher at the Ninoy she turned her phone over.
Rosalejos disappeared and could said.
reporter Emil Sumangil on 24 Oras on Aquino International Airport (NAIA). “Bakit ganyan po kalaki? Sabi ko. no longer be located after he was
LTFRB board member Ariel Inton
Friday that the driver of a taxicab with Thinking he would only be paying Mura na nga yan. Papunta dito, mga
reprimanded the unknown driver
plate numbers UVM 119 allegedly took P300, Tomale accepted the offer and 300 lang ‘yun pag nagme-metro. Naka-
while reminding cabbies that they may
his cellphone after charging him and took the cab. child lock pa yung pintuan. Kasi pwede
not overcharge or use other methods
his pregnant companion thousands of When they reached their naman ‘yun pindutin sa gilid e. Naka-
when charging their passengers.
pesos for their fare. destination, the driver was charging child lock, di ako makababa,” Pugales
“Una, hindi tama na mangontrata
“Natataas na po yung boses. them P1,980 or about five times more said.
siya ng per kilometer , P30. Gamitin
Siyempre, buntis po yung kasama than what they expected the fare The Land Transportation
niya yung metro. Pangalawa, hindi
ko eh, natakot na po, naglabas na should be. Franchising and Regulatory Board
dapat na mag-overcharge. Airport
lang kami ng pera. Nagbigay kami ng “Sinisingil na po kami ng almost (LTFRB) which investigated the
P1,400,” he recounted. P2,000- P1,980. Kaya po ganun yung complaints found out that the Jeric Rosalejos (pictured in driver’s license) and his hanggang Buendia, P1,800? Ano siya,
sinisingil, ang nangyari kasi imbes supposed taxi barker, Jeric Cullano alleged accomplice reportedly victimized at least helicopter? Parang hinoldup niya yung
“Sapilitan lang po kinuha cellphone, three passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International bata eh,” Inton said. n Rie Takumi / APG, GMA

so siyempre natakot na po yung babae na sa P30 niya tinimes, sa P300 niya Rosalejos, turned out to be the taxi’s Airport Terminal 3. News / Published / February 12, 2016 / 9:00 pm