Tougher government action on killings of journalists sought

BRUSSELS (AFP) — The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has expressed extreme concern over the murder of a Masbate broadcaster and demanded tougher action from President Arroyo.

In an open letter to Mrs. Arroyo, the Brussels-based group said, "The situation in the Philippines is out of control and (should) be treated with the highest level of concern."

Radioman Nelson Nadura was gunned down in Masbate City last Tuesday after airing his morning political radio talk show.

Mrs. Arroyo vowed to punish those behind the murder. An average of three journalists are killed every year in the Philippines, and Nadura was the 43rd victim since democracy was restored to the country in 1986.

Last month, the President offered a P1-million bounty for information leading to the arrest of suspects in each murder of a journalist in the past five years.

The IFJ called on the Arroyo administration "to make a commitment to press freedom and to ensure the safety of all journalists working in the Philippines" by launching a full investigation into Nadura’s death.

"There is no worse form of censorship than violence. It is essential that journalists are free from threats of violence and allowed to work in an environment free from fear," the group said.

The IFJ echoed press watchdog Reporters Without Borders’ speculation that Nadura may have been targeted for his past membership in the communist New People’s Army (NPA).

The NPA, through its spokesman, Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal, however, denied having any hand in Nadura’s ambush-killing.

In a phone interview, Rosal said Nadura had no "blood debts" to the people nor had he committed any offense to the communist movement.

He said they respected Nadura’s decision to turn his back on the communist movement in 1998, since he had no "sins" against society and the underground movement.

Rosal said the radioman was probably killed because of his hard-hitting commentaries.

He said the Communist Party of the Philippines and the NPA, its military arm, likewise condemned Nadura’s slaying and urged media organizations to be vigilant in protecting journalists from violence.

Meanwhile, presidential candidate Raul Roco urged Malacañang to "make a breakthrough in finally catching and convicting at least one killer, for starters, of a Filipino journalist."

If elected, Roco said he would not "tolerate a Philippines that is known to the world as one of the most perilous countries for members of the media to work in." — With James Mananghaya