The International
Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the National
Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in condemning the murder of dwEB-FM radio
commentator Romeo Olea in Camarines Sur province on June 13.
Olea was on his way to work about 5.30am
when he was shot by three gunmen on the outskirts of Iriga in the northern Philippines.
He died shortly after at the Rinconada Medical Center.
Olea is the fourth media worker to
be killed in the Philippines
this year and the fifth since the inauguration of President Benigno Aquino III on
June 30, 2010.
Miguel Belen, one of Olea’s
colleagues at dwEB-FM, also died on July 31, 2010 from injuries sustained when
he was shot weeks earlier on July 9.
“The impunity with which journalists
are attacked and murdered will never be brought to an end unless government
unequivocally commits itself and acts resolutely to defend the rights and
liberties of each and every Filipino,” the NUJP
said in statement.
It is not yet clear if Olea’s murder
was directly related to his work as a journalist. He was known for his
“crusading” reporting in his program, Anything
Goes, according to local media reports.
“The murder of Romeo Olea is
characteristic of media killings in the Philippines where outspoken voices
are violently silenced,” IFJ Asia-Pacific
Director Jacqueline Park said.
“The IFJ joins the NUJP in imploring authorities to see that the
investigation into his murder is fast and effective.”
For further
information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific
on +61 2 9333 0919
The IFJ
represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries
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