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