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Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Oro media issues call to arms anew
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
LOCAL media organizations are now calling on colleagues to protect themselves following the shooting to death of tabloid reporter Robert Ramos of the Laguna-based Katapat last Sunday night.
Militant groups joined media practitioners Monday in slamming President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for her inutility in solving the murder cases involving journalists.
Alsa Media chairman Jerry Orcullo and Philippine National Police (PNP) Press Corps Region 10 President Michael Bustamante said media should take into consideration their safety always.
"Media people should always consider first and foremost measures to protect themselves," Orcullo said.
Bustamante who is also operations manager of dxIF Bombo Radyo said media practitioners should now start carrying firearms.
"Media must carry firearms for protection. We will not rely on government enforcers to protect us because some of them are subject to media criticisms," he said.
Cagayan de Oro Press Club President Richard Vallar, Kapisan ng mga Broadcasters ng Pilipinas-Cagayan de Oro chairman Jonas Bustamante, and National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP)-Cagayan de Oro Vice President Uriel Quilinguing also voiced strong condemnation in this recent slaying of one of their comrades.
Neck deep
Karapatan lawyer Beverly Musni said, "As Arroyo spits on the values of truth, honesty and public accountability, so does her illegitimate government continue to kill militants who have been made martyr, Ricardo "Ding" Uy and Rober Ramos being the latest in the roll of martyrs."
"Simply for bravely standing ground that only with her out of Malacañang can the Filipinos start rebuilding lives for the better. Arroyo is already neck-deep with the blood of fallen activists. Justice demands that she be removed from Malacañang soonest, prosecuted and penalized to the fullest extent of the law."
Uy was also a Bayan Muna chair of Sorsogon City.
NUJP secretariat Ayi Muallam said Ramos was the 72nd Filipino journalist murdered since 1986, the 35th journalist murdered since Arroyo took power in January 2001, the 9th journalist murdered this year, and the 2nd in less than 60 hours.
In a statement, the NUJP said, "While NUJP are still trying to determine the circumstances behind Ramos's killing--whether it was related to his job as a journalist, for example--we must point out that his murder underscores the continuing danger being faced by journalists in the Philippines, particularly those in the provinces, where most of the killings of journalists take place."
Whatever the circumstances, NUJP said the killing of a human being should be condemned.
"But the fact that Ramos's murder occurred amid the never-ending violence and intimidation journalists in the Philippines experience should be of utmost concern to the media community, to the public, but most especially to the authorities, particularly Arroyo," their statement continued.
Without basis
NUJP said the President likes to boast--without basis, we must point out--that, on one hand, her administration has done much to protect press freedom.
"On the other hand, she has no qualms labeling the media as bad boys, even going to the extent of unfairly and erroneously accusing journalists of being terrorist-coddlers," their statement reads.
Unidentified men shot and killed Ramos, while the victim was waiting for a ride in Cabuyao, Laguna, south of Manila, Sunday night.
Ramos' murder came 60 hours after the slaying of radio station dzRS announcer Uy, a Bayan Muna provincial coordinator for Sorsogon and head of the Media Reporters Association of that province.
Uy was killed outside his home in Sorsogon City, Sorsogon province last Friday.
Police investigation showed that Ramos was waiting for a ride when two motorcycle-riding men onboard a motorcycle stopped in front of him and then one of the killers shot Ramos twice in the head, killing him instantly. The killers sped away thereafter.
Chief Superintendent Jesus Versoza, National Police regional director for Southern Luzon, has ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to investigate the murder. (With report from Sunnex)
(November 22, 2005 issue)
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