MANILA — A journalism professor urged authorities on Sunday to look into the persons that Percy Lapid criticized before the radio commentator was killed.

“Dapat imbestigahan ng pulis yung mga pinakahuling personahe na naging paksa ng kanyang komentaryo. Kasi sa pagkakaalala ko, nagdi- discuss siya tungkol sa red-tagging, kini-criticize niya yung mga nagre-redtag, mga corrupt,” said Danilo Arao of the University of the Philippines (UP).

Arao's statement came shortly after lawmakers urged for a faster resolution of Lapid’s death and the death of an alleged middleman in jail.

• Percy Lapid's brother: PH justice system not working

While there are no specific “troll” messages concerning Lapid’s death, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said there are still netizens who even feel that these tragedies are deserved.

“In general may mga comments na para masaya sila na may namatay o deserve yan. I feel part pa rin yan ng isang kampanya pa rin para madiscredit ang media.. kasama siya sa mas malaking campaign to paint the media as kaaway, kung namatay man kasalanan naman nila iyan. Iyan ang mga narrative na kailangan nating bantayan,” NUJP Chairman Jonathan De Santos.

Both De Santos and Arao believe that the government must acknowledge that when it comes to press freedom, there really is a “culture of impunity."

“Dito sa ating bansa, siyempre walang pormal na deklarasyon ng martial law, at least wala pa, kaya lang nararamdaman natin yung ganung klaseng tendency bunga ng chilling effect. Kasi nung kay Percy Lapid, yung pagpatay, wala itong pinagkaiba sa shutdown ng ABS-CBN na not in so many words sinasampolan po ito para sabihin sa ibang franchise-dependent networks na ganito ang mangyayari sa kanila kung hindi sila umayos-ayos. Iyong kay Percy Lapid ganoon din,” Arao said.

NUJP stressed Lapid’s case must be resolved immediately, and a dialogue must happen between the government and journalists to prevent further media killings.

“Kahit gaano kadami ang dialogue, kung di natin mareresolba itong mga kasong ito, ang mangyayari diyan ay ‘window dressing’ lang, di na nabago. At iyon ang hinahabol natin na maresolba ang mga kasong ito… kasi alam na ng mga nagbabalak na mahuhuli kayo,” De Santos said.

“May tendency kasi ang pamahalaan, mga government agencies to minimize itong mga kasong ito. Pwede nilang sabihin na ‘ay yung biktima talaga ay di naman journalist, pangyayari di work- related. Importante itong detalyeng ito… kailangan maresolba at ma-address. Saka na tayo magdebate kung tunay ba itong journalist…di naman nakakadagdag sa confidence natin sa pag babalita,” he added.

—report from Jasmin Romero, ABS-CBN News

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