International group of journalists expresses concern over latest murders

BAGUIO CITY — The murder of two journalists in a span of just 60 hours proves that the Philippines continues to be a dangerous environment for the media, the International Federation of Journalists said.

"These recent deaths are further evidence of the incredibly dangerous environment that journalists work within in the Philippines," said IFJ president Christopher Warren in a statement sent to news organizations worldwide.

Warren said President Arroyo should take immediate and decisive action to bring an end to violence against journalists.

"It is inexcusable and incomprehensible that this level of violence against journalists is allowed to continue," he said.

The IFJ has serious concerns for the safety of journalists in the Philippines, Warren said.

Two journalists — one in Sorsogon on Friday and another in Laguna on Sunday night — were felled by assassins, bringing to nine the number of journalists murdered in the Philippines this year.

Broadcaster Ricardo "Ding" Uy of dzRS-AM in Sorsogon was gunned down outside his home in Sorsogon City last Friday, while Robert Ramos, a reporter of Katapat newspaper in Laguna, was shot dead in front of a market in Calamba City Sunday night.

The killers of Ramos are believed to be members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), according to Superintendent Gil Blando Lebin Jr. Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Special Investigation and Task Group chief.

Lebin said the Laguna police tried to convince a man who saw Ramos killed to identify the suspects.

They are also seeking the cooperation of a group of traders selling video compact discs to help solve the case, he added.

On the other hand, Superintendent Flaviano Baltazar, CIDG4 deputy regional director, said Ramos’ wife, Cecille, Taliba reporter Roy Tomandao and Raul Dublin, OIC of City Jungle Club, believe that the killing of Ramos was related to his job.

The Optical Media Board raid in Picky’s market on Nov. 16 led to the confiscation of some P4 million worth of pirated video compact discs, they added.

Police records show that around 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Ramos was waiting for a ride home in front of Picky’s public market when two gunmen fired upon him at close range.

Investigators said the victim and his colleague had had a verbal tussle with traders selling pirated video and audio compact discs last Nov. 15.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police chief Director General Arturo Lomibao assured the public yesterday that police will give priority to solving the murders of the two journalists.

Speaking at the wake of Ramos in Cabuyao, Laguna yesterday, Lomibao said violence against journalists is a direct affront to press freedom and the country’s democratic institutions.

"Of the nine cases involving journalists this year, we have solved all seven of the preceding cases and we are confident that we will make a breakthrough in due time," he said.

"More than anybody else, the PNP is most interested in seeing that these cases are solved and perpetrators placed behind bars."

On the other hand, Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes said law enforcement agencies will ensure the "immediate resolution" of all cases involving the killing of journalists.

"We deplore and we do not condone, and we ran after people who, in fact, committed (the) crimes." he said.

"We are particularly concerned about the attacks against members of the media because media is the bulwark of democracy so when you attack a member of the media, you are not only attacking the person, you are attacking freedom of the press," he added.

The PNP has created a task force to solve the cases, Reyes said.

Uy, Media Reporters Association in Sorsogon president, and a Bayan Muna provincial coordinator for Sorsogon, was shot several times by a lone gunman who rode a motorcycle and fired a .45 caliber pistol.

Uy and Ramos were the eighth and ninth journalists killed in the Philippines this year, bringing the number of deaths since 1986 to 72 and to 35 since Mrs. Arroyo took power in January 2001.

Earlier, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists had described the Philippines as among the top five "most murderous" countries for journalists in the world. — Artemio Dumlao, Cesar Ramirez, Ed Amoroso, Cecille Suerte Felipe