Iloilo journalists join nationwide protest vs media killings
Braving intermittent rains, journalists here yesterday gathered at the shrine of Ilonggo patriot and journalist Graciano Lopez Jaena at the public plaza in Jaro District here to condemn the continued killing of journalists in the country.
Led by the Iloilo chapter of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), around 30 journalists from various newspapers and television and radio stations wore black shirts and displayed a streamer calling for a stop to the killings.
Among those represented where dyLL Radyo ng Bayan, Philippine News Agency, dySI Super Radyo, Aksyon Radyo, Bombo Radyo, RMN dyRI, GMA Network, ABS-CBN, IBC 12, The Daily Guardian, The News Today, News Express, The Daily Headlines, Press Photographers of the Philippines-Iloilo chapter and Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Representatives of various media outlets gave messages of solidarity after a minute of silence to pray for the victims.
The protest was part of a nationwide "Day of Mourning and Protest) by media groups following the killing of two broadcasters in the past weeks.
Similar activities were expected to be held in Baguio, Olongapo, Pampanga, Quezon, Sorsogon, Bukidnon, Zamboanga, Davao, Kidapawan, Ozamiz, General Santos and Jolo.
The program in Manila was canceled because of heavy rains brought by typhoon "Karen."
Capiz broadcaster Martin Roxas, program director of the dyVR of Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) and host of the station's "Targetanay sa Udto" noontime program, was gunned down by two motor-cycle riding armed men on August 7, minutes after he left the station on board a motorcycle.
Police have arrested and filed murder charges against Joenel Lastimoso, 27, and Christian Tan, 25, who were intercepted at a police checkpoint in the neighboring Ivisan town. The two fit the description of the victim's assailants.
Another RMN broadcaster Dennis Cuesta was shot in General Santos City last August 4 and died five days later.
The recent killings have brought to five the number of murdered journalists this year and 60 since 2001 when President Macapaga-Arroyo came to power, according to records of the NUJP.
After hearing messages of support from various media outfits, the journalists released white balloons for press freedom and justice for the victims and their families.