The Pen Not Mightier Than The Gun
It's the Philippines, where being a radio broadcaster is "riskier, on a per capita basis, than service as a left-wing activist or even as a guerrilla for the communists' New People's Army or militant Muslim groups." According to an advocacy group called the National Union of Journalists, at least 42 Filipino journalists have been killed since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took power five years ago. Most of those killed have been radio broadcasters, who regularly criticize politicians, warlords, soldiers, and the police. According to Carlos Conde, secretary general of the group, "it's local warlords, police officers going after critical journalists."
Arroyo has been criticized for contributing to lawlessness in the Philippines, where local vigilantes operate largely unchecked and there is, according to Amnesty International, a "lack of confidence in the criminal-justice system." Few murderers are caught – there has only been one conviction of a police officer for the 42 journalist deaths. And that, says the Committee to Protect Journalists, "looks like an anomaly."
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez has said "leftists" are exaggerating the problem, and that in fact many of the journalists were actually killed while getting drunk or fighting over women. He also suggested they start carrying guns. According to the National Union of Journalists, many already do – they just don't have the same kind of firepower as their assailants.