Pubdate: Sun, 06 Feb 2005
Source: Sunstar Davao (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Sunstar
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1991
Author: Ben O. Tesiorna http://www.ifj.org/
Cited: International Federation of Journalists http://www.ifj.org/
Cited: National Union of Journalists of the Philippines
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Rodrigo+Duterte
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Davao+Death+Squad
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines http://www.nujp.org/

DUTERTE CALLS INT'L JOURNALISTS' GROUP EXECS 'IDIOTS'

DAVAO CITY -- Mayor Rodrigo Duterte lambasted representatives of the
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and called them idiots.

The IFJ along with the National Union of Journalists of the
Philippines (NUJP) came out with a report citing "two mayors from the
south who are openly supporting the use of death squads in dealing
with unruly elements in their town."

The IFJ blamed the government's tolerance to this kind of activity as
one of the reasons for a widespread culture of violence, which in turn
is blamed for the series of attacks against journalists here in the
country.

Duterte advised the IFJ not to meddle with the city's internal affairs
saying these foreigners have not contributed anything for the welfare
of the Dabawenyos.

The mayor then challenged the IFJ representatives to personally visit
Davao City to see for themselves the so-called culture of violence
existing in the city.

"Let them come to Davao and maybe they will become part of it. Wala
silang binigay ni piso sa Pilipinas kaya sabihin mo dyan sa
international gathering of idiots na yan na huwag silang makialam
dito," Duterte said.

NUJP chairman Inday Espina Varona in reaction to Duterte's statement
said they respect the mayor's sentiments saying, "this is a free country".

She however, clarified that they never accused Duterte of
anything.

The international fact-finding mission organized by the IFJ and the
NUJP found that a widespread culture of violence is tolerated and even
condoned by Philippine government officials.

The other mayor being referred to by the report is Cebu City Mayor
Tomas Osmena.

They blamed this violent culture and the open support of some public
officials on the proliferation of death squads for the increasing
attack against journalists here in the country.

In a statement, IFJ representative from Australia Gerard Noonan said
the mission discovered instances of senior government officials,
including "mayors in two major cities in the south of the country, who
openly supported the use of death squads in dealing with unruly
elements in their towns".

"When such a culture is allowed to flourish at an official level, it
is little wonder that aggrieved local strongmen or political figures
turn to hitmen to get even with the media," Noonan said.

The mission, which included representatives from Australia, Indonesia
and the Philippines, last week visited the cities of General Santos in
Mindanao, Iloilo and Cebu in the Visayas and Legazpi in the Bicol region.

It was funded by the IFJ after the international journalist
organization reported in its annual review of journalist safety this
month that the Philippines had a record of deaths of journalists
second only to Iraq in 2004.

The NUJP had recorded the deaths of 13 Philippine journalists in
2004.

Since 1986, more than 50 journalists were violently killed. In the
almost two decades, there has been only one conviction for the murder
of a journalist.

The NUJP is documenting each of these cases and is seeking to pressure
the Philippine government to reopen a number of the cases.

Noonan said the mission will prepare a detailed report on its findings
and recommendations which will be presented to the IFJ secretariat in
Brussels next month.

"This is a record the Philippines definitely doesn't want," Noonan
said.
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