Mexican journalists from the state of Michoacan might be receiving armored vehicles, body armor and protection for their families, if a bill that was proposed yesterday is approved.

The initiative developed by a local representative of the leftist Democratic Revolution Party (PRD), Cristina Ayala Portillo, is aiming to create a program that would protect journalists against the threats that they face when covering drug trafficking stories.

In a news conference, the lawmaker said that the objective of this proposal is to create preventive and protective measures that can be applied to reduce the danger that these professionals face.

The project involves "urgent protection measures", such as temporary relocation of threatened journalists, as well as insurance coverage.

If this bill is approved by Congress from the state of Michoacan, journalists at risk might be given personal bodyguards to protect their homes and offices. Other benefits from this measure would be armored vehicles and bulletproof vests for journalists who would need them.

Portillo announced that in the coming days she will be visiting different regions of Michoacan, to get to know the opinion of journalists and to enrich the initiative that she plans to submit soon to State’s Congress.

Michoacan is one of the most violent states in Mexico, where several drug gangs and cartels like "La Familia Michoacana" and "The Knights Templar"(Los Caballeros Templarios) operate in.

Editorial@sandiegored.com

Omar.Martinez@sandiegored.com