NPC welcomes effort to make media killing a ‘war crime’

THE National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC) said it welcomes the proposal of Associated Press (AP) president, Gary Pruitt, to classify the killing of journalists and media workers as a “war crime” punishable under the 1948 Geneva Convention on Universal Human Rights and the International Criminal Court.

“The proposal of Mr. Pruitt is indeed most welcome and should be supported by all media groups, especially here in the Philippines where media killings remain unabated,” said NPC president Joel Sy Egco.

In a speech before members of the Hong Kong’s Foreign Correspondents Club last March 30, Pruitt said a “new protocol” should be incorporated in the texts of the Geneva Convention pertaining to human rights and in the charter of ICC so it can also investigate media killings as a war crime.”

Egco noted that since 2009, when 32 local journalists were among the 58 victims in the infamous ‘Ampatuan Massacre’ in Maguindanao, the Philippines has been tagged as among the “most dangerous countries” in the world for members of the press.

“Sadly, the perception that the Philippines remains a dangerous country for journalists has not changed,” Egco added.

“Indeed, this massacre by the Ampatuan clan in Maguindanao in 2009 also aptly described Mr. Pruitt’s observation that to be identified as a ‘MEDIA’ or a ‘PRESS’ is to become a target of terrorists or political warlords and their private armies,” Egco said.

During his speech, Pruitt was reported as saying, “It used to be that when media wore PRESS emblazoned on their vest, or PRESS or MEDIA was on their vehicle, it gave them a degree of protection because reporters were seen as independent civilians telling the story of the conflict.

“But guess what: That labeling now is more likely to make them a target.”

“Media killings and the culture of impunity remains as pervasive then and now,” Egco stressed, further noting that under the Aquino administration, some 31 journalists have already been killed “and yet, their attackers remain scot-free.”

“While everybody realized that the proposal of Mr. Pruitt would take a long while to become a reality, it sends a strong message to everyone, the authorities in particular, on the serious need to address the issue of media killings.

“On the part of the NPC, we would participate in any global activity to promote this issue,” Egco assured.

RUBIE GARCIA CASE

Egco also announced that with the help of the Criminal Investigation Group (CIDG) under Dir. Benjamin Magalong, they soon expect a “major break” in the murder last year of NPC member and Remate Cavite correspondent, Rubylita ‘Rubie’ Garcia.

“Even as we join our colleagues in remembering the first death anniversary of Rubie this April 6, we are quite confident that with the NPC and the CIDG closely working together to solve her murder, a major break would soon be forth coming,” Egco said without elaborating.

Garcia was gunned down inside her house in Bacoor last April 6, 2014, the 24th member of the press to be murdered under the administration of Pres. Benigno Aquino III.

.. Continue: Remate.ph (source)

NPC welcomes effort to make media killing a ‘war crime’