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Gerardo “Gerry” Ortega, a broadcaster with Radio Mindanao Network was shot dead on Monday 24 January in Puerto Princesa city. His lawyer has claimed that his murder was related to his work. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 99 journalists have been killed in Philippines since 1992, with one of the worst massacres taking place in the Maguindanao province of Phillipines in 2009 when 32 media workers were murdered.
A year after the Philippines witnessed the mass slaughter of 58 people, including 32 journalists, justice for the victims’ families seems a distant prospect. Harry Roque reports.
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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.
The Aroyo governments drops the pretence it is capable of prosecuting its political allies implicated in the slaughter of reporters. The only hope for the victim’s family is that the upcoming elections will deliver change argues Harry Roque
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