2 legislators call for special team to probe killings of journalists

MANILA, Philippines—Two lawmakers are urging President Benigno Aquino III to form a special team of private investigators and prosecutors to spearhead the investigation of a mounting number of unresolved killings of journalists in the country.

“We are making this proposal as we condemn the latest killing of another journalist in Mindanao. We need to have a firm resolve to end this impunity. Unless these crimes against journalists are… solved, we cannot hope to end this carnage,” said Representatives Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar and Alfredo “Albee” Benitez of Negros Oriental in a joint press statement.

The release quoted Evardone as saying the Philippines would continue to gain notoriety as the world’s most dangerous place for journalists as long as crimes against reporters and broadcasters were not resolved.

Benitez said that the authorities have failed to deliver results after years of investigating these crimes and it was about time to give private investigators the opportunity to solve them.

In the press release, Evardone and Benitez suggested that the private prosecutors “be empowered and clothed with vast authority to go after the perpetrators of these crimes.”