Policeman held for reporter death in the Philippines

A policeman in the Philippines has been arrested for the murder of journalist Crispin Perez on June 9, the BBC said.

It said the shooting, in central Mindoro Occidental province, is one of scores of alleged murders of journalists by members of the security forces.

The Philippines is one of the most dangerous places for reporters, and conviction of the killers is rare.

Mr Perez was a lawyer and former provincial vice-governor who hosted his own show on Radio DWDO.

The latest attack on a journalist took place last week, when radio commentator Jonathan Petalvero, in southern Agusan del Sur province, was killed. No arrest has been made.

The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) said five journalists were killed last year and 59 have been killed since 2001, when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo came to power. (BBC)

Former Mindoro politician killed

Mindoro Occidental province. (Wikipedia)

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / June 9, 2009) – A man stabbed dead a former provincial deputy governor on Tuesday in an attack outside a radio station in San Jose town in the central Philippine province of Mindoro Occidental, reports said.

Reports said that lawyer Crispin Perez was attacked shortly after he stepped out around 9 a.m. from the radio station where he had a program, according to the television network GMA 7.

It said the 66-year old former politician died on his way to hospital.But another network, ABS-CBN reported that Perez was attacked in his house at around 10 a.m.

It quoted police investigators as saying that a man who pretended as someone in need of Perez's legal services stabbed him repeatedly in the body.

It was unknown whether the attack was connected to his job as a lawyer or an old feud.

(Mindanao Examiner)