Cebu Citizens-Press Council

Cebu Citizens-Press Council’s statement
on President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s views
on media killings

June 1, 2016

From a political leader who won on a platform of killing criminals and crime suspects, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s statement about killing corrupt journalists should not shock us anymore.

But it still does. Because it demolishes any hope the incoming president will abandon the gospel of death he preached in his campaign and adhere to the rule of law when he assumes office.

Most journalists recognize corruption as a major ill plaguing the media industry. But for the president-elect to encourage murder as solution assaults the oath he took as a lawyer, as mayor, and soon as president of the country. And that oath is to uphold the law.

PACHICO A. SEARES
Executive Director