MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 03, 2008) - International media watch dog Reporters Without Borders on Thursday hailed the 12-year prison sentence that a court in the central Philippines city of Cebu imposed on John Lloyd Ortiz on March 31 for the attempted murder of radio journalist Cirse Torralba in 2004.
“This is a positive step in the fight against impunity, even if Ortiz’s motive for shooting Torralba was not linked to his work as a journalist,” the press freedom organization said.
Ortiz fired several shots at Torralba as he was driving away from Angel Radio in Cebu on June 08, 2004. Although hit in the left shoulder, Torralba fired back with his own gun. He and his driver, Randy Libradilla, recognised Ortiz.
This, and the traces of gunpowder nitrates found on Ortiz’s hands, sufficed for judge Estela Alma Singco to convict him.
Ortiz’s motive was his suspicion that his girlfriend, who worked at the same radio station, was having an affair with Torralba. Dozens of journalists have been killed in relation to their work in the Philippines the past years.
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