22 Jun 10 | Index Index, minipost
Three Filipino journalists have been murdered in separate incidents over the last seven days. Sun FM broadcaster Desidario Carmangyan was shot on Monday 15 June, when on stage hosting a talent contest in the southern island town of Manay, Joselito Agustin, a broadcaster with DZJC Aksyon Radyo-Laoag, was gunned down on Tuesday by two unidentified motorcyclists near the northern town Baccara whilst walking home from work and on Saturday night, Kastigador reporter Nestor Bedolido was killed after being shot six times outside a karaoke bar in Digos city. All three had been outspoken about political corruption, malpractice and other illegal activities. Local authorities say they have set up a special task group to investigate the attacks.
20 Apr 10 | Index Index, minipost, Uncategorized
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called for all presidential candidates standing in the Filipino general election in May to make pledges protecting journalists and to overturn the “country’s culture of impunity”. This move comes after the government dropped the murder charges against Zaldy and Akmad Ampatuan on Saturday, who were linked to the Maguindanao massacre in November 2009. Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has today named the Philippines as one of the 12 countries on its 2010 Impunity Index.
03 Dec 09 | Uncategorized
United Nations human rights officials have urged the government of the Philippines to carry out a thorough investigation into the massacre and “the wholesale killing of journalists” which took place in the Maguindanao province last week.
A joint statement by Frank La Rue, the UN special rapporteur on freedom of expression and Philip Alston, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions called for major political reform in the country with special attention to be given to press freedom. The statement came amidst news that among the 57 people confirmed to have been killed, 30 of those are now identified as journalists. The statement said:
“The pre-meditated killing of political opponents, combined with a massive assault on the media, must be tackled at various levels that go well beyond standard murder investigations. The massacre also demands a more extensive reflection on the elite family-dominated manipulation of the political processes and the need to eliminate such practices to ensure the future of democracy in the Philippines. This will require a thorough investigation of the broader context to be undertaken by a credible and independent body.”
Both La Rue and Alston emphasized that any broader inquiry into the political system would need to focus on the ways and means of enhancing protection for journalists in the future.
Noting that “elections in the Philippines have traditionally become occasions for widespread extrajudicial executions of political opponents,” they also called on the government to immediately set up a high-level task force to identify measures to prevent future killings that could occur in the lead-up to elections.
The International Federation of Journalistes (IFJ) says 105 journalists have now died in the country since Maria Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo became president in 2001. Government officials now say 19 people are being investigated, 12 of which are relatives of the only suspect who has so far been charged, Andal Ampatuan Jr. In the past the family under suspicion have been called “valuable political allies” by President Arroyo.
01 Dec 09 | Index Index, minipost, News and features
A member of a powerful clan has been charged after the massacre of at least 57 people including journalists and politicians last week. Andal Ampatuan Jr, a mayor from lawless Maguindanao province, surrendered last week and has denied involvement. The government announced that the entire police force of his home province could be replaced because of its possible complicity in the killings. Those killed were trying to file nomination papers for a candidate challenging Mr Ampatuan in next year’s gubernatorial elections. Read more here
