ZAMBASULTA Journalists Condemn Murder Of Broadcaster

A STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES - ZAMBASULTA CHAPTER ON THE RECENT KILLINGS OF MEDIA PRACTITIONERS IN MINDANAO.

LAST February 23, another colleague in media, Ernesto Rollin, a broadcaster of Radio Station dxSY - Times Broadcasting Network, in Ozamis City, was brutally shot and killed by two masked men in Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental province.

Since then or in the past two weeks alone, one other - Ronaldo Doong, a block-time broadcaster – was attacked by two armed men while traveling along the highway in Colorado village in Digos City. A third colleague, Badrodin Abas, a block timer broadcaster of DxCM in Cotabato City and the secretary general of the United Bangsamoro Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD), was shot dead last January 21 by again two cowardly armed men riding a motorcycle while he was driving in Cotabato City.

Ernie Rollin was the 99th journalist killed since 1986, when democracy was supposed to have been restored in the Philippines; he was the 63rd mediaman killed during this incumbent human-rights and extra-judicial killings plagued regime of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

These media men are only a few among the numberless and many other Filipino men and women who had dared to work for truth and social justice who were gunned down in recent years. Most of their cases are naturally unsolved, since the rule of law is on the brink of anarchy and collapse in this nation. The continuing litany of news about summary killings throughout the country only means that not only media men but ordinary citizens are in constant danger of premeditated, undeserved and sudden murder and death.

We, members of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines-ZamBaSulTa (Zamboanga-Basilan-Sulu-Tawi-Tawi) Chapter, can only but, of course, join in the condemnation of these recent acts of violence against our colleagues and deadly aggression against the human and civil rights of Filipino journalists and citizens.

We are not hopeful that such appeals, among the so many in the past, will move our callous and deaf authorities to take serious and appropriate action to solve these killings and give justice to the victims, their families and to the society to whom they dedicated their work and to whom they belonged. Yet, we can only try, and we continue to hope.

Stop killing journalists! Stop killing innocent Filipinos!

NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES - ZAMBASULTA CHAPTERMarch 2, 2009

Oroquieta Press Club seeks justice for murdered broadcaster in Mindanao

We wish to convey our deepest sympathy and condolence to the bereaved family of Ernesto “Ka Ernie” Rollin. The whole community of media practitioners in Oroquieta City and Misamis Occidental is one with you in the search for justice to his untimely death.

While we understand the utmost risk involved in the nature of our profession, we strongly condemn the brutal and treacherous murder of our fellow journalist who earned his living through his journalistic practice. In this regard, we call on the police to fast track its investigation into the case and pave the way for immediate justice to Ka Ernie and his family.

Likewise, we call on the people to be vigilant in monitoring the conduct and any development pertaining to the investigation currently being undertaken by the authorities.

As a full-time radio commentator, Ka Ernie must have earned the ire from traditional politicians in Misamis Occidental for his fierce attacks and commentaries on corruption issues involving them. Irregardless of his political affiliation and personal belief, he deserves the rights every journalist in the country should enjoy.

Telling the truth to the public no matter how dismal it may seem to the public official involved remains a noble principle of every media practitioner. Besides, it is the public’s right to know every detail concerning the affairs of any government body and the performance of every elected government official.

Killing a journalist cannot kill the truth nor can conceal the official’s misdoings from the public’s eye. In contrast, it only further shows the lack of moral authority to the part of the official.

We understand that the lack of economic security, low income, and political violence have forced several media practitioners into several corrupt practices to include the familiar term of “envelopmental journalism”, among others.

These practices then easily make them frontline targets of political violence. But in Ka Ernie and all other media deaths, there is absolutely no moral and rational justification for murder. Now, Ka Ernie has become a part of the long-list of victims of impunity against journalists in the Philippines.

While justice remains elusive for Ka Ernie and the rest of our fallen journalists, the national government still falls short of providing protection and long-term solution to the issue of media killings. The lack of concrete actions, delay in investigative and judicial proceedings contributes much to the culture of media killings.

The lack of seriousness and sincerity to the part of the police in the pursuit of investigations further denies the media community right to speedy justice. The Oroquieta City Press Club joins hand with other media groups in the country for this common call for an end to media killings.

We at the Oroquieta Press Club reiterate our call for a swift and impartial investigation that will eventually lead towards the delivery of justice to Ka Ernie’s family and the media community as well.

Stop the Killings! Justice to Ka Ernie!

Paul Pastrano Gangoso

President, Oroquieta City Press Club

(

http://tungkab.wordpress.com/2009/02/26/statement-of-the-oroquieta-city-press-club-on-the-recent-killing-of-broadcaster-ernie-rollin)

Popular radio journalist gunned down on Mindanao island

Reporters Without Borders is outraged by today’s murder of Ernesto Rollin, a presenter on local radio DxSY-AM in Ozamiz City, in Misamis Occidental province (on the southern island of Mindanao).

He was the first journalist to be killed this year in the Philippines, but the 99th since the return to democracy in 1986.

Aged about 40, Rollin was gunned down at close range at about 5:30 a.m. in a service station in nearby Oroquieta City by two men in caps and ski masks aboard a motorcycle, who checked to see he was dead before they drove away. Rollin had been on his way to host his 7:30-9:00 a.m. programme.

“We firmly condemn the murder of Rollin, the latest victim of a culture of violence and impunity that has ravaged the media in the Philippines for too long,” Reporters Without Borders said. “The motive has not yet been established but the modus operandi indicates it was a contract killing ordered by Rollin’s enemies and carried out by professional hit-men.”

The killers clearly knew that Rollin was in the habit of parking his car in the service station before catching a bus. His companion, Ligaya, said she heard the shots before seeing Rollin lying face-down on the ground. She rushed to him and tried to lift him up, but one of the triggermen fired a last in the back of his neck. This was almost certainly the fatal shot, Ligaya said, adding: “I had not expected that Ernie would be targeted.”

According to his colleagues, including the Ozamiz City representative of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Rollin was well-known for being outspoken. In recent programmes he had covered a controversial decree concerning health workers and the use of cars by officials in Misamis Occidental province.

Under-secretary for justice Ricardo Blancaflor announced that police superintendent Leonilo Cabug had been put in charge of a special unit tasked with identifying and arresting the suspects. “As of this moment, elements of the task force headed by Leonilo Cabug are investigating the incident to determine the possible motive behind the killing,” Blancaflor said.

Rollin had been a journalist for the past 10 years or so. His outspoken comments on his prime-time current affairs programme on DxSY-AM had made him popular in the province.

Reporters Without Borders is outraged by today’s murder of Ernesto Rollin, a presenter on local radio DxSY-AM in Ozamiz City, in Misamis Occidental province (on the southern island of Mindanao).

He was the first journalist to be killed this year in the Philippines, but the 99th since the return to democracy in 1986.

Aged about 40, Rollin was gunned down at close range at about 5:30 a.m. in a service station in nearby Oroquieta City by two men in caps and ski masks aboard a motorcycle, who checked to see he was dead before they drove away. Rollin had been on his way to host his 7:30-9:00 a.m. programme.

“We firmly condemn the murder of Rollin, the latest victim of a culture of violence and impunity that has ravaged the media in the Philippines for too long,” Reporters Without Borders said. “The motive has not yet been established but the modus operandi indicates it was a contract killing ordered by Rollin’s enemies and carried out by professional hit-men.”

The killers clearly knew that Rollin was in the habit of parking his car in the service station before catching a bus. His companion, Ligaya, said she heard the shots before seeing Rollin lying face-down on the ground. She rushed to him and tried to lift him up, but one of the triggermen fired a last in the back of his neck. This was almost certainly the fatal shot, Ligaya said, adding: “I had not expected that Ernie would be targeted.”

According to his colleagues, including the Ozamiz City representative of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Rollin was well-known for being outspoken. In recent programmes he had covered a controversial decree concerning health workers and the use of cars by officials in Misamis Occidental province.

Under-secretary for justice Ricardo Blancaflor announced that police superintendent Leonilo Cabug had been put in charge of a special unit tasked with identifying and arresting the suspects. “As of this moment, elements of the task force headed by Leonilo Cabug are investigating the incident to determine the possible motive behind the killing,” Blancaflor said.

Rollin had been a journalist for the past 10 years or so. His outspoken comments on his prime-time current affairs programme on DxSY-AM had made him popular in the province.

Media Watch Dog Condemns Killing Of Broadcaster In Mindanao

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - The National Union of Journalists of the Philippine Zamboanga Basilan Sulu-Tawi-tawi Chapter is condemning another media killing which is the second case to occur in 2009.

Ernesto Rollin a radio broadcaster of DXSY Times Broadcasting Network in Ozamis City is the second journalist murdered this year and the 64th victim under the Arroyo's administration.

Rollin of Oroquieta city was on his way to report to Ozamis City for his morning's public affairs program at Times Broadcasting Network at 5:30 a.m. on February 23 when two suspects on ski-masks shot him several times.

The first victim for this year and the 63rd under Arroyo's administration was Badrodin Abas a block timer broadcaster of DxCM in Cotabato City.

Abas who was also the secretary general of the United Bangsamoro Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD) was gunned down on January 21 around 7:40pm by two unidentified assailants riding on tandem on motorbike when the victim was driving a multicab.

The NUJP ZAMBASULTA Chapter is demanding fair and just investigation to both slay cases (Abas and Rollin).