VP Binay disgusted by another killing of media member

Vice President Jejomar Binay (Facebook photo)

MANILA – Vice President Jejomar Binay on Tuesday expressed disgust over the killing of another journalist, Melinda “Mei” Magsino, at high noon last Monday in Batangas City.

Magsino, a former correspondent of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, was reportedly shot at close range by a gunman about 50 meters away from her apartment in Barangay Balagtas.

”The killing of Melinda Magsino is a tragedy, to her family and to our democracy. There are no words strong enough to convey my disgust with the continued killings of our journalists,” Binay said in a press statement.

”Ms. Magsino was a local journalist who also used social media to exercise her freedom of expression and her civic duty. For this she was silenced,” he added.

The Vice President said the government has the responsibility to protect all the media practitioners.

”The press is a key institution in a democratic society,” Binay said.

Binay called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure that “those behind the murder of Magsino are swiftly brought to justice.

”

”The safety of our journalists should always be guaranteed. They should remain free from harassment and acts of violence,” Binay said.

”Mei Magsino feared that she would become just another statistic. Let us make sure that she does not become another grim reminder of the continued culture of impunity in the country,” he added.

Magsino was reportedly the 173rd journalist killed since 1986.