[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1548 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1548

  Condemning the recent violence against members of the media in the 
                              Philippines.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 21, 2010

Mr. Royce submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Condemning the recent violence against members of the media in the 
                              Philippines.

Whereas according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, ``sixty-five 
        journalists have been murdered in the Philippines in the past two 
        decades, a death toll trailing only Iraq.'';
Whereas, on the morning of November 23, 2009, 30 journalists and 2 media support 
        workers were ambushed and murdered by more than 100 heavily armed 
        militiamen as they accompanied a group to file candidacy papers for 
        Esmael Mangudadatu in what would become known as the Maguindanao 
        Massacre;
Whereas the primary suspects in the Maguindanao Massacre have not been convicted 
        of a crime, and additional suspects remain at large;
Whereas, over the past 2 decades, Philippine authorities have obtained 
        convictions in only 5 murder cases involving journalists;
Whereas, on June 14, 2010, Desiderio Camangyan of Sunrise FM, located in the 
        southern Philippines, was shot and killed onstage while hosting a 
        singing contest;
Whereas, on June 15, 2010, Joselito Agustin, a broadcaster with DZJC Aksyon 
        Radyo, located in the northern Philippines, was ambushed and shot dead 
        by 2 gunmen as he was returning home from work;
Whereas the reporters who were killed were known for their commentaries on 
        corruption, illegal logging, and other political issues of interest in 
        the Philippines;
Whereas the Committee to Protect Journalists finds that the culture of impunity 
        that exists in the Philippines is unseen in any other peacetime 
        democracy; and
Whereas a free press is a hallmark of free societies and is a vital tool in 
        combating corruption: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) condemns the recent violence against members of the 
        media in the Philippines;
            (2) expresses its condolences to the families of Joselito 
        Agustin, Desiderio Camangyan, and others who have been victims 
        of violence against the media; and
            (3) calls on the Government of the Philippines to fully 
        investigate the murders of Joselito Agustin and Desiderio 
        Camangyan.
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