Pakistan Press Foundation is concerned over the threats to journalists in Philippines
Pakistan Press Freedom (PPF) in letter to Rodrigo Duterte, President of Philippines expressed concern over the threats to freelance journalist Gretchen Malalad and Jamela Alindogan Caudron correspondent of Al Jazeera.
PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali in his letter urged Philippines government to ensure safety of Malalad and Alindogan Caudron, also identify and penalize the perpetrators.
According to International Federation of Journalists and National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NJUP), both journalists became targets of social media attacks in recent days, receiving threats of rape and harm to them and their families.
They have been targeting for writing about the anti-drug campaign, which has seen almost 2,500 people killed since the inauguration of President Rodrigo Duterte on June 30, 2016.
Malalad allegedly provided information to a TIME Magazine journalist writing about the tragic consequences of the government policy. Alindogan Caudron has been threatened for her reports relating to the Philippine-based Islamist militant group Abu Sayyaf.
In July, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar announced establishing of a special task force that would investigate media related killings and said that his office was in the process of drafting the details of the team. The NJUP has highlighted the potential for this task force to tackle the threats against Malalad and Alindogan-Caudron.
Philippines remains one of the most dangerous countries for practicing journalists, with 145 media workers killed since 1990.
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