4 January 2007
JOURNALIST STABBED TO DEATH
Authorities in the Philippines are being urged to investigate the slaying of radio broadcaster Andres Acosta to determine whether he was killed because of his work. Acosta was stabbed to death on 20 December 2006 in the town of Batac, reported the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
Acosta was a reporter for radio station dzJC Aksyon Radyo (Action Radio), an affiliate of the Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC). He also wrote for the community newspaper "Northern Light". Acosta covered mostly police stories.
Although the motive for his death is still unknown, a local police chief said revenge could be the reason. Acosta was believed to have encouraged his son to agree to be a witness in a murder case, according to CMFR.
Six journalists were killed in the Philippines because of their work in 2006, says CMFR. In 2005, seven were murdered.
Visit these links:
- IFEX Alerts on the Philippines: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/159/
- CMFR: http://cmfr-phil.blogspot.com/2006/12/cmfr-on-acostas-killing.html#links
- CMFR Database of Slain Journalists: http://www.cmfr.com.ph/js-killed/index.html
- IFJ: http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?index=4504&Language=EN
- Safety Office for Filipino Journalists:
http://www.ifj-asia.org/files/safety%20office%20report%20revised2.pdf
- CPJ: http://www.cpj.org/news/2006/asia/phil21dec06na.html
- RSF: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=20253
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