Friday, January 05, 2007
Police file murder charges v. 4 men in killing of radio reporter (5:40 p.m.)
MANILA -- A government employee and three other men have been charged with murder in the killing of a radio reporter in the northern Philippines, a town police chief said Friday.
Andres "Andy" Acosta, who worked for radio station DZJC in northern Laoag City, died from stabbed wounds minutes after arriving at a hospital where he drove himself on a motorcycle in nearby Batac town in Ilocos Norte province last month.
Batac police chief Bienvenido Rayco said the murder charge was filed last week against Joseph Calzado, of the provincial agriculture department, and three friends in the stabbing death.
A government prosecutor will determine whether there is enough evidence to bring the case to court.
Acosta, 46, apparently confronted the four men because they had allegedly scattered rocks and other debris on a highway near Calzado's residence, Rayco said.
Acosta, who worked for radio station DZJC, had earlier reported unidentified people throwing rocks at motorists passing in the area.
Based on a list prepared by the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines, Acosta was the 10th journalist killed in the country this year and the 83rd since democracy was restored in 1986.
Provincial Police Chief Roman Felix said the police do not consider Acosta's killing as work-related or politically motivated, describing it as "an ordinary street crime." (AP) |
