The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in calling for an immediate investigation into the shooting attack on radio broadcaster Fernando “Kapid” Gabio, in Iloilo City in the Southern Philippines on the morning of March 3.

Gabio, 62, was shot by two unidentified men on a motorcycle in front of his house in Barangay Democracia, Jaro District, Iloilo City around 7am. He sustained a bullet wound in the right thigh. Gabio said he was cleaning his car when the men shot him. He tried to pull out his gun to retaliate, but the assailants sped away. Gabio was rushed to the Iloilo Mission Hospital for treatment.

Gabio was the co-host of slain broadcaster Niel “Lito” Jimena at radio station dyRI, under the

Radio Mindanao Network.

According to Nestor Burgos, NUJP chair and Visayas correspondent of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Gabio has been “hosting block-time radio programs especially during election periods attacking or defending politicians.” 

A block time is a paid time slot in radio stations whose hosts are usually employed by the buyer of the time slot.

Senior Supt. Marietto Valerio, Iloilo City police director, said investigators have yet to determine the possible motive behind the attack, although they are looking into the possible links between this and the killing of his co-host.

“The IFJ is deeply concerned that 2012 has seen a continuation of the attacks on media professionals that we saw in the Philippines in 2011,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

“We call upon President Benigno Aquino III to honour his pre-election commitment to defend press freedom in the Philippines, by seeing that all attacks on media workers are investigated and the perpetrators held accountable for their crimes.”

About six months ago, onAugust 22, 2011, Jimena was killed in E.B. Magalona town in Negros Occidental. Jimena’s case remains unsolved but the Negros Occidental police earlier said his killing could be related to his work as a broadcaster and as former informant of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the police intelligence unit in Iloilo.

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +61 2 9333 0950 

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

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