The New York based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that for 2008, RP is listed as amongst the deadliest place for journalists despite being the freest in Asia.
It’s alright for CPJ to report such killings but they should know why these journalists are killed in the first place. Filipino journalists thinks that having a FREE country means they are entitled to say what they want to say and destroy other people’s character. The libel law is not properly implemented. There are no recent reports and statistics that suggest that people filing cases against these journalists are prospering. There’s even a new ruling under SC that says ‘Libel sentence for journalist must be commuted’. In that case, victims of these abusive and irresponsible journalists have nowhere to turn to, not even the law. When the victims are desperate and have nowhere to turn to, they will resort to extra judicial killings.
I am an advocate of free journalism with boundaries. Journalist should follow the law and ethical standards befitting a journalist. They should never resort to character assassinations. Irresponsible and greedy journalists have no place in our society. I couldn’t care less if they’re eliminated, even through extra judicial killing.
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