29 March 2012

Arrest Warrants Issued in Connection with Broadcaster's Murder

The International Federation of Journalists

(IFJ) joins its affiliate the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines

(NUJP) in welcoming progress in the case

ofthe

2011 murder of broadcaster and environmentalist Dr. Gerardo "Gerry"

Ortega, in

the Philippines.

Gerardo Ortega, a radio broadcaster also known as an

anti-mining advocate, was shot and

killed in Puerto Princesa City, in Palawan province, (approximately

592 kilometers southwest of Manila) on January 24, 2011.

The issuance of the warrants by the Regional Trial Court of

the City of Puerto Princesa, against former Palawan

Governor Joel Reyes, his brother Mario Reyes Jr., incumbent Mayor of Coron town,

and former Palawan provincial administrator

Romeo Seratubias was a reversal of a 2011 decision, which was widely condemned by

journalists at the time.

The

IFJ Asia Pacific welcomes the move,

but again calls for the Philippine authorities to ensure transparencyin all investigations into journalist killings, as a wider move to

end the culture of impunity.

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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