The International

Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the National

Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in calling on

authorities in the Philippines

to promptly investigate the murder of radio anchor Maria Len Flores Somera on

March 24.

Somera, an

anchor with dzME radio station, was shot dead near her home in Malabon, a

district of Manila. Somera was on her way to host her daily program Arangkada

Kinse when she was ambushed by a man at around 9:45am, according to local media

reports. Other reports claim two men were involved in the attack. Somera, 44,

was rushed to the Valenzuela

General Hospital

and pronounced dead on arrival.

While she was

known for her on-air criticism of local officials, it is still unclear whether

her death is related to her work or an alleged land dispute she was involved in

as president of theSilenian Homeowners Association, according to the

PhilippineInquirer.

“The IFJ implores

authorities in the Philippines

to bring those responsible for Somera’s murder to justice, and break the cycle

of violenceand impunity that has plagued the country

for so long,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director

Jacqueline Park said.

“We

welcome the establishment of a Special Investigation Task Group to investigate

her murder and hope that police and the judiciary see that her death does not

go unpunished.”

The Philippines

is among the most dangerous countries in the world for media personnel. The IFJ

issued an Action

Plan to President Benigno Aquino III upon his inauguration on June 30, 2010

calling on his government to end the culture of impunity that has seen 144

media workers killed since the return of civilian rule in 1986.

Somera is

the third journalist killed in 2010, following Palawan’s

Gerardo Ortega and Abra’s Cirilo Gallardo. If proven to be work-related, her

murder would be the fourth under President Aquino. She is survived by her husband and three children.

For further

information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific

on +612 9333 0919

The IFJ

represents over 600,000 journalists in 125 countries worldwide

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IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific

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