25 May 2006
ANOTHER JOURNALIST KILLED
Yet another journalist has been killed in the Philippines. On 22 May 2006, Fernando "Dong" Batul was shot six times by two gunmen on motorcycles as he drove to work in Puerto Princessa on Palawan Island, reported the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Batul was the third journalist killed in the country in the past month.
Batul, 34, was a popular commentator on the early morning programme "Bastonero" on DYPR, a radio station owned by the Palawan Broadcasting Corporation. He was known as a hard-hitting critic of the mayor of Puerto Princesa, Edward Hagedorn.
Batul was a former vice mayor of Puerto Princessa. He had also raised the ire of local government and military officials by interviewing members of the New People's Army, a local leftist group, noted CMFR.
Batul's murder came one week after two hand grenades and a letter were tossed into Batul?s home. The letter threatened harm to his family if Batul continued with critical broadcasts. Local police have not yet confirmed whether Batul was killed because of his work as a journalist.
Batul is the fifth journalist killed so far this year, according to IFJ. The latest victims included press photographer Albert Orsolino, who was gunned down at the wheel of his car by unidentified gunmen in Calooncan City on 16 May, and newspaper columnist Nicholas Cervantes, shot and killed by assailants outside his house in suburban Manila on 3 May.
Two other journalists have also been wounded in separate attacks this month. Iring Maranan, a columnist and host of a local television programme in San Pablo City, was assaulted by a local city councilor on 16 May.
On 6 May, Paul Manaog, a reporter for the radio station DWLL, was seriously wounded when gunmen opened fire on him and his wife in Naga, a town in the province of Camarines Sur.
Attacks on journalists in the Philippines occur with widespread impunity, says the CMFR.
According to a recent CMFR study, more than 50 journalists have been murdered since democracy was restored in the country in 1986. There have been only two convictions.
Visit these links:
- CMFR: http://cmfr-phil.blogspot.com/
- IFJ: http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=3930&Language=EN
- RSF: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=17762
- CPJ: http://www.cpj.org/news/2006/asia/phil22may06na.html
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