Lower ranking on impunity index expected after ruling on Maguindanao Massacre is out

October 30, 2019

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) on Tuesday shrugged off the Philippines' ranking in the Global Impunity Index report.

In a statement, PTFoMS Executive Director Joel Sy Egco said the latest Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) report was “expected”.

“The CPJ report is not surprising and was actually expected. In fact, we have been anticipating that because for as long as the massacre case remains in the equation, following the methodology used by CPJ, we shall remain on that list,” said Egco.

He said the fifth place ranking of the Philippines is due to the unresolved Ampatuan Massacre case where 58 civilians, including 32 journalists, were killed in what would be known as the single deadliest attack on members of media.

Egco expressed strong confidence that by 2020, the country would be given a much improved ranking.

“The report covered a ten-year period. That is, from August 2009 up to August this year. The massacre happened in November 2009. With great confidence I could say that either way, once promulgated and the suspects convicted or come the next report period covering August 2010 up to August 2020, the massacre case will be out of the equation,” he said.

“Thus, we are looking at a much better and improved ranking for the Philippines. At this time, we are clarifying with CPJ some gray areas in their methodology, such as the inclusion in their list of cases that were deemed not related to media work,” Egco added.

According to report, the country has been among the worst five countries nearly every year since the index was first published in 2008.

It explained that while “the trial of over 100 suspects behind the massacre is due to conclude this year… as of August 31, 2019—the final date CPJ counted convictions for this year’s index—no verdict had been announced.”

While it was unfortunate that one case, probably that of Kidapawan broadcaster Eduardo Dizon, was added to the 2018 list of unresolved cases, Egco said they find it “appalling” the CPJ formula does not factor in sincere government efforts by running after the gunmen and filing charges against them.

“I have already established contact with CPJ Southeast Asia representative, Shawn Crispin, and raised our concern. There is something amiss in their methodology such as that if state action would not be considered, and that’s for all countries they cover, then they are not helping at all. Impunity, or even complete impunity, means there was no action taken at all in any particular state. And that is definitely not the case in the Philippines,” Egco added.

The CPJ list remained on its 2018 level with Somalia, Syria, Iraq, South Sudan and the Philippines still in the top five positions.

The agency said they investigated, monitored and acted on every incident brought to it, including filing of charges against suspects in both work-related and non-work-related deaths of journalists.

By January 2020, the Task Force will embark on a year-long, countrywide safety seminars for media workers to be given by competent security experts and professionals.

“Likewise, the agency has strengthened its engagements with both local and international stakeholders to include projects with UNESCO and the International Media Support, among others,” it said. Ella Dionisio/DMS