Two suspects in broadcaster slay try surrender in South RP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 9, 2009) – Two suspects in the failed killing of a broadcaster in the southern Philippines have surrendered to the police on Monday, reports said.

Reports said the two men - Felizer Caitor and Bernardo Aguilar – surrendered in Cagayan de Oro City where the radioman Nilo Labares was shot and wounded on Mach 5. RMN said Labares has been declared out of danger.

Labares, who worked for the Radio Mindanao Network, was shot in the body while heading home from work. Police said the attack was connected to his work.

Labares is known to strongly criticize illegal gambling activities in Cagayan de Oro.

Cagayan de Oro Vice Mayor Vicente Emano had ordered the police to take steps to deter further possible attacks on local journalists and given a shoot-to-kill order against Labares’ assailants.

President Gloria Arroyo's spokesman, Cerge Remonde, condemned the shooting and ordered the police to leave no stone unturned to ensure justice is done.

Last month, unidentified gunmen also killed broadcaster Ernie Rollin, of dxSY in Oroquieta City in Misamis Occidental province.

Political killings have long been a concern in the Philippines, where about 60 journalists have been slain since 2001, including six last year, making the country one of the world's most dangerous places for reporters.

Government prosecutors earlier this year filed murder charges against a police officer in the August 2008 killing of Dennis Cuesta, program director of Radio Mindanao Network in General Santos City. (Mindanao Examiner)

Attack on Mindanao radioman condemned

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) condemns
the attack on Cagayan de Oro broadcaster Nilo Labares of Radio
Mindanao Network’s station dxCC who was shot and seriously wounded the
evening of March 5, 2009.

Colleagues describe Labares as a hard-hitting commentator who was
active in denouncing illegal activities such as cockfights and
unlicensed entertainment joints in his city when he was attacked.

Cagayan de Oro journalists say Labares informed his colleagues at RMN
that he had been receiving threats before the attack and, at one
point, was approached by an emissary of a "powerful" personality who
warned him to stop his tirades against video carera and even asked how
much it would take him to do so.

His network has said Labares has been declared out of danger. But
while, we hope for his speedy recovery, we worry that his safety is
far from assured and demand that authorities
act posthaste to secure him and others who may be under threat.

Again, while we reiterate that we see no proof of any official policy
of directly attacking journalists, we nevertheless lay the blame for
this and previous assaults on our colleagues, too many of who have
been silenced permanently, on the government, whose inaction and
apathy, as well as its actual attempts to muzzle the media and curtail
freedom of the press and expression, have nurtured the culture of
impunity that emboldens those who wish to silence us.

The situation is not helped any by the efforts of ill-advised
lawmakers to craft repressive legislation like the right of reply
bill, or to sabotage efforts to expand democratic space like that
which perverted what would have been a bill to decriminalize libel
into one that would be even more draconian than the existing law.

These continued attempts to silence the independent media, whether
through physical assaults, government attempts at control or devious
legislation are alarming symptoms not just of a general breakdown in
law and order but, worse, of an increasing drift toward repression.

We do wish we are wrong and dare government to prove us so.

Unfortunately, that may be wishful thinking.

Nevertheless, we call on our colleagues and the public we serve to
band together and refuse to waver. Only our united resistance and
determination can prevent those who seek to rob us of our freedoms.

NUJP ZamBaSulTa condemns attempt on broadcaster's life

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Zamboanga-Basilan-Sulu-Tawi-Tawi Chapter is once again alarmed over the growing number of journalists harassed and killed in Mindanao in recent months.

We strongly condemn the latest attempt to kill another journalist on Thursday evening.
Cagayan de Oro broadcaster Nilo Labares of Radio Mindanao Network’s station dxCC was on his way home when he was attacked by armed men, who pulled a trigger on his back, wounding him seriously.

Fortunately, he is now out of danger and recuperating.

The attack on Labares is the second attempt to kill local journalists just this year. On February 28, Ronaldo Doong, a block-time broadcaster, sustained bruises and cuts when he was attacked by two armed men while travelling along the highway in Colorado village in Digos City around 10 a.m.

The recent attack is also the fourth since the death of Badrodin Abas, a block time broadcaster of dxCM in Cotabato City and the secretary general of the United Bangsamoro Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD) on January 21. In the other case, Ernesto Rollin, a broadcaster of radio station dxSY - Times Broadcasting Network, in Ozamis City, who was all brutally murdered on February 23.

We urge the authorities to conduct immediate, fair and just investigations in these killings and the attempt to murder journalists. These attacks on journalists constitute an attack against our democratic institutions including the rule of law.

Another broadcaster is shot in southern Philippines

Broadcaster Nilo Labares, of Radio Mindanao Network, at a hospital in Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental province after unidentified gunmen shot him late Thursday, March 5, 2009 while he was heading for home. (Photo by Dante Sudaria)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 6, 2009) – Unidentified gunmen shot and wounded a broadcaster in latest attack on journalists in the southern Philippines.

Motorcycle-riding gunmen shot Nilo Labares several times in the body late Thursday as he was heading for home in Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental province. Labares is a broadcaster for the Radio Mindanao Network.

Cagayan de Oro Vice Mayor Vicente Emano has ordered the police to take steps to deter further possible attacks on local journalists and given a shoot-to-kill order against the assailants.

“My policy is for them to shoot the suspects if they resist. No more allowing them to flee. Besides, this may start a killing spree against the media,” Emano told RMN’s dzXL radio.

No group or individual claimed responsibility for the attack, but police suspect it has something to do with Labares criticism of illegal gambling.

Cagayan de Oro journalists say Labares informed his colleagues at RMN that he had been receiving threats before the attack and, at one point, was approached by an emissary of a "powerful" personality who warned him to stop his tirades against “video carera” and even asked how much it would take him to do so.
RMN said Labares has been declared out of danger.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) has condemned the attack on Labares.

“Again, while we reiterate that we see no proof of any official policy of directly attacking journalists, we nevertheless lay the blame for this and previous assaults on our colleagues, too many of who have been silenced permanently, on the government, whose inaction and apathy, as well as its actual attempts to muzzle the media and curtail freedom of the press and expression, have nurtured the culture of impunity that emboldens those who wish to silence us,” the NUJP said in a statement.

President Gloria Arroyo's spokesman, Cerge Remonde, condemned the shooting and ordered the police to leave no stone unturned to ensure justice is done.Just last month, unidentified gunmen also killed broadcaster Ernie Rollin, of dxSY in Oroquieta City in Misamis Occidental province.

Political killings have long been a concern in the Philippines, where about 60 journalists have been slain since 2001, including six last year, making the country one of the world's most dangerous places for reporters.

Government prosecutors earlier this year filed murder charges against a police officer in the August 2008 killing of Dennis Cuesta, program director of Radio Mindanao Network in General Santos City. (Mindanao Examiner)