New effort to protect Filipino reporters mooted
From News Reports:
Manila, August 21: National Police Director General Avelino Razon Jr is reported to have initiated a renewed effort to “revive” cooperation between the police; Task Force Usig and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, or NUJP, and other media organisations to halt the slaughter of leftist militants and reporters.

The effort was to have begun with a meeting between representatives of the police, the task force and NUJP representatives led by its president, Rowena Paraan.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo V Puno established Task Force Usig on May 13, 2006 to investigate the murder of militant party-list members and media personalities

It brief is to provide the focus and resources to immediately investigate, solve and prosecute the perpetrators, as well as to safeguard the lives and limbs of high-risk citizens.

It was too: Identify those responsible for the killings; secure witnesses; bring the perpetrators to justice; protect citizens; establish if there is pattern of serialised killings victimising leftist activists; and establish a reward system.

Coordinating offices under the Task Force include the directorial staff offices of intelligence (DI), investigation and detective management (DIDM), operations (DO) and police community relations (DPCR), national support units for criminal and forensic investigation (CIDG and CLG), legal and intelligence services and community and public information (LS, IG and
The slaughter of three broadcasters in Quezon, General Santos City, South Cotabato, Province and Roxas in Capiz Provinces exemplifies the continuing slaughter.

The Star newspaper quotes national police spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome as saying: “General Razon has directed all police units to liaison with the media and ensure their safety. We also advise media to report to the police any threat on their persons in line with their profession.”

The Southeast Asian Times