The International
Federation of Journalists (IFJ) demands a full police investigation into the
attempted murder of radio broadcaster Jerome Tabanganay in the northern Philippines
on May 14.
Tabanganay, 44, host of the “Agenda”
news program, was reportedly confronted by an unidentified assailant as he
entered his office at the government-owned Radyo ng Bayan station in Kalinga
province early on Friday morning, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines
(NUJP).
The gunman fired four times, hitting
Tabanganay in the back of his right leg and knee as he fled into the office,
the NUJP said.
Tabanganay’s regular criticism of
crime and corruption in the province had made his program one of the most
popular in Kalinga. The NUJP, an IFJ
affiliate, believes this is the likely motivation for the attack.
“The attack on Jerome Tabanganay
diminishes hopes of relief for journalists in the Philippines from the culture of
impunity that has seen up to 100 media workers killed during the administration
of outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,” IFJ
Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.
“The IFJ calls on the country’s
likely new President, Noynoy Aquino, to commit to investigating and punishing
violence against journalists in every province, to combat the persistent
failure of local authorities to prevent targeted attacks against local media.”
Meanwhile, in Maguindanao in the
country’s southern province
of Mindanao, Esmael
Mangudadatu was voted in as the new Governor on May 14, ousting the powerful
Ampatuan clan.
Mangudadatu’s wife and two sisters
were among the 58 people killed in the massacre in Maguindanao on November 23
last year, as they travelled to file his election candidacy papers in the
provincial capital. Those murdered included 32 journalists and media workers, in
the worst atrocity committed against journalists in memory.
The massacre was allegedly carried
out on the orders of Ampatuan family members.
For further
information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific
on +612 9333 0919
The IFJ
represents over 600,000 journalists in 125 countries worldwide