Second journalist slain in 5 days

BAUAN, Batangas — Two motorcycle-riding men fatally shot a local correspondent of radio station dzRH and national tabloid Bulgar, here yesterday morning, authorities said.

Arnnel Manalo, also a columnist of Dyario Veritas, a local weekly newspaper, was the second journalist slain in five days. Last Saturday, Roger Mariano, a hard-hitting Ilocos Norte radio commentator, was also gunned down.

Manalo, who was also a barangay councilman, was ambushed at about 7:15 a.m. after he had dropped off his two children at school. He sustained bullet wounds from a caliber .45 in the neck and face.

Superintendent Gaudencio Masangkay, Bauan police chief, said they will review all of Manalo’s articles in Dyario Veritas, adding that he might have gotten the ire of some people he had criticized.

The Batangas Newswriters Association, of which Manalo was the auditor, condemned his "senseless killing" and appealed to President Arroyo to order an in-depth investigation.

More than 40 reporters have been killed since democracy was restored in the country in 1986, including six last year, making the country one of the most dangerous for journalists, according to media watchdog groups.

In many cases, police suspect powerful local politicians who were irked by critical reporting or commentaries.

Last year, President Arroyo offered a P1-million reward to help solve the killings, but apparently investigations have made little headway. — With Ed Amoroso and wire reports