Philippines Journalist Killed

 

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in condemning the killing of a journalist in San Pablo City, Laguna Province, approximately 30 km south of Manila, in the Philippines, on April 24, 2012.

 

Michael Calanasan, 36, a columnist for local daily newspaper The Laguna Courier, was shot and killed by two gunmen riding tandem on a motorcycle at approximately 7am in San Pablo City’s Santa Monica suburb. Calanasan also worked as a city traffic enforcer.

Calanasan and his wife, who witnessed the shooting, were reportedly on their way to San Pablo City Hall when the journalist was shot in the face. His wife was not hurt in the attack.


According to the Managing Editor of the Laguna Courier, Calanasan began working at the newspaper in 2011.  Calanasan’s mother is a former Editor-in-Chief of the paper.

 

The suspected gunmen are yet to be identified, but the police have offered a reward for any information that leads to arrests of the suspects.

 

The motives behind the murder remain unclear. Reports note that Calanasan's column focused on local issues and some suggest that the shooting may have been in connection with Calanasan’s work as a traffic officer, rather than his work as a journalist.

 

Unidentified assailants on motorbikes have become common perpetrators of attacks on journalists and other media personnel in the Philippines.

 

 “The IFJ calls on the authorities of the Philippines to act quickly to establish the motive for the killing” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

 

“The IFJ again expresses its deep concern regarding the continuing attacks on journalists in the Philippines that have taken place throughout 2012.”

 

For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0950

 

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

 

Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific

 

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