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Friday, September 12, 2003
Stop killing hard-hitting mediamen: Laviņa
By Aurea A. Gerundio
HARD-hitting media practitioners should not be silenced by bullets or grenades, Davao City Councilor Peter Laviņa said Thursday.
Laviņa, who worked as a newsman before getting into politics, joined several media practitioners in Thursday's indignation rally at the Rizal Park condemning the killings of journalists.
"Kung grabe ug komentaryo ang isa ka media practitioner sa isa ka tao, dili dapat bala or granada ang ibalos. Puwede man siya mo-avail ug radio time or space sa newspaper para ipagawas pud iyahang side (If a commentator makes hard-hitting remarks against someone, he shouldn't be killed by grenades or bullets. The person can avail of radio time or space in the newspaper to air his or her side) ," Laviņa said.
Laviņa lamented the unfairness of the brutal killing of radio commentator Juan Porras Pala, who was known for his hard line comments against prominent entities.
"In fact, the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) asked the City Council to pass a resolution requesting for a congressional investigation regarding the killings of media practitioners and I am supporting their call," Laviņa said.
Earlier reports showed that Pala was the fourth radioman killed since the series of killings of three broadcasters and journalists during the early 80's in Davao City.
Edgar Nagar, a radio commentator of radio station dzRH and a staunch anti-communist, was killed in 1981 by armed men believed to be members of the New People's Army (NPA).
Alexander Orcullo, human rights leader and accused of coddling NPA members, was killed on his 38th birthday on October 19, 1984. He was also the editor-in-chief of the defunct Mindanao Currents.
Leo Palo, another radio commentator and anchor of radio station dxRA, known for being an anti-communist, was assassinated in September 27, 1987. Palo was shot during his radio progam, along with others who were present at the crime scene.
Radio programs guests Cesar Maglalang and Ed Palomarez along with technician Narciso Balani and reporter Rogie Sagado were also slain during the incident.
(September 12, 2003 issue) |
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