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Monday, September 08, 2003
Dabawenyos condemn Pala's assassination
By Nelson C. Bagaforo and Ben O. Tesiorna
DABAWENYOS especially those in the media practice condemned Sunday the brutal murder of radio broadcaster and former city councilor Juan Porras Pala by unidentified assassins in Panacan Saturday night.
Media practitioners in Davao City described the killing of Pala as a "big fatal blow" to the so-called fourth estate.
Pala was already a survivor of two previous assassination attempts including one this year. His murder brings the recent press toll in the country to three in just a few weeks.
Unidentified gunmen shot Pala, 49, even as journalists were demanding thorough investigations on the earlier murders of reporter, cameraman and spinner of radio station dxFS FM Rico Ramirez in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur last August 20 and Laguna broadcaster Noel Villarante last August 19.
In the wake of these developments, the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) has demanded for speedy, decisive action from government officials to halt the spate of killings of journalists in the country.
A survivor of a 1991 ambush when he was still a city councilor, and another last April 29, Pala lately took to working in "remote" mode, by phoning in his commentaries to radio station dxGO from his home.
NUJP said his death gives this country the dubious distinction of tying with Columbia as the most dangerous place to practice journalism.
"Pala's murder raises the death toll among Filipino journalists to 42 since the "restoration of democracy" in 1986. Nine members of the Philippine press have died in the last two years," NUJP says in a press statement.
Davao City Rep. Prospero Nograles expressed hope Pala's killing "will not be another one of those deaths that remain unsolved and forgotten."
"He was a hard-hitting man but he does not deserve to die like that...It's a big fatal blow to broadcast media in particular. You can silence the man but not what he stood for," Nograles said.
Here are some reactions on Pala's death:
"Jun Pala maybe a nuisance to some people or a fortress to others. Rest assured that he is a personality in our city. As a media practitioner and public official, he has some part in the community. He said Pala was known for his fearless commentaries and in watching the local government. This is the legacy that must be continued even after his death. He said justice must be served to his family." -- Luwil Al-ag, University of Mindanao professor
"I'm saddened of his untimely death. Kasi kahit binabanatan nya ako, ok lang sa akin kasi pinapasikat nya ako. Naaalala ko pa noon tinanong ko sya bakit nya ako binabanatan sa programa nya sagot nya sa akin para di daw masabi ng tao na malakas at kakampi ko sya. Pala is a very helpful man, kahit wala syang pera pag may maghingi bigay pa rin sya. (Even if he hit me with his comments, it was okay because he made me famous. I remember that I asked him why he always criticizes me in his program, and he said so that people wouldn't think that I'm his ally. He was helpful. Even if he didn't have any money, if someone asks, he gives) His untimely death shocked his circle of friends." -- Peng Aliņo, Radyo ng Bayan announcer.
"It reminds us in the media to once again reflect on what freedom of the press entails. That it comes with enormous responsibility and at the same time with the risks we know we are taking." -- Edith Regalado, Philippine Star correspondent.
"Expected for a hard-line commentator. That's the risk of our profession." -- Micmic Villaflor, Mindanao Times reporter.
"Condemnation on the murder of Jun Pala is not enough that media practitioners in Davao enjoys press freedom. We are catching up with Colombia as the capital of murdered media in the world. Peace and order is not only the absence of commentary but also the presence of justice." --Fernando "Batman" Lintuan, radio commentator
"It's now obvious that Pala's days, all along, were numbered. Although he survived two previous attempts on his life, his killers motto was if before you don't succeed try and try again." --Hildegardo Iņigo, dean of college Ateneo College of Law.
"Pala's death was caused by various circumstances from political to personal. To some extent it's a curtailment of press freedom but every media practitioner must know that being with the press is only a privilege and not a right that should not be abused." --Editha Caduaya, Mindanao Daily Mirror reporter
"Whether he was a politician first or a broadcaster by his anchorage of a program full of political commentaries is a matter yet to be resolved separately. What cannot be divorced is the impunity at silencing or retaliating to the right to express one's views or opinion however acrimonious they may be. With five deaths in one year, the Philippines becomes the most dangerous place in the world to be a journalist, as appropriately put by the US-based commission to protect journalists. That will make our reputation as having the freest press in Asia in question. Or perhaps that places a high price to it." --Awi Cayon, Today reporter
"He is one tough commentator, a big loss. Sya lang makasukol kay mayor eh. Wala nay muatake kang mayor ug tinud-anay (He's the only one who can go against the mayor. No one can attack the mayor for real)." -- TV personality who requested anonymity.
(September 8, 2003 issue)
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