PHI up in Press Freedom Index
but same problems bedevil media

The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) has released another documentary on the killings of newsmen in the Philippines. DEAD CASES: To Die A Second Time deals with what investigators and prosecutors call cold or dead cases, cases that are no longer moving in court because of the failure, or the refusal of authorities, to find evidence, or witnesses, or suspects.

Of the more than 120 mediamen who have been killed in the line of duty since press freedom was restored in 1986, there have only been 10 convictions, or a conviction rate of less than 8 percent. More than half of the media murder cases are already considered cold or dead cases, according to the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists (FFFJ). These are cases that are no longer moving in court; many have never even progressed beyond the police investigation level.

The documentary may be viewed here:

The PCIJ released the documentary even as the Philippines registered a slight improvement in its ranking in the 2011 Press Freedom Index released by Reporters sans Frontieres (Reporters without Borders). This is even as the same problems of impunity, the proliferation of armed groups, and the failure of a weak judicial system continue to hamper the search for justice in media killing cases.

From its ranking of 156th in 2010, the Philippines moved up 16 places to 140 for the year 2011, RSF said. The Press Freedom Index is based on the RSF’s annual survey on the state of press freedom in more than 170 countries. In its new rank, the Philippines is the 7th highest among the Southeast Asian nations. Timor-Leste is highest at 87th place, and Vietnam lowest at 171st.

The Philippines droppeed to 156 in 2010 after the November 23 2009 massacre of 32 journalists in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao province. Prior to that, in 2009, the Philippines ranked 122nd place. Despite the slight improvement in the ranking this year, the Philippines is still way below its ranking in 2009.

Also, RSF pointed out that the same problems continue to hound Philippine media. “Paramilitary groups and private militias continued to attack media workers. The judicial investigation into the Ampatuan massacre made it clear that the response of the authorities was seriously inadequate,” RSF noted in its report.