Slain mediaman’s lawyer: There’s blood on CA’s hands

(Updated 2:59 p.m.) Slain Mindoro-based broadcaster Nilo Baculo Sr. had been asking the government for protection since 2007 but his pleas went unheeded. Six years later, he was gunned down.

 

Laywer Harry Roque, who represented Baculo before the courts in seeking a writ of amparo because of threats to his life, said the Court of Appeals justices may have blood on its hands for refusing the broadcaster's request.

 

"Prior to his killing, he was the first journalist for whom the Supreme Court issued a Writ of Amparo. Regrettably, when remanded to the Court of Appeals for determination of propriety of issuance of a protection order, the Court of Appeals denied his plea ruling that Nilo failed to prove the threat on his life," Roque said in an article posted on the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines website.

 

“His killing today is what happens when the Court errs in their appreciation of evidence,” the lawyer said.

 

Baculo was shot dead by motorcycle-riding men in Calapan City, Mindoro Oriental.

 

“There is blood in the hands of the CA Justices who refused Nilo Baculio protection,” Roque said.

 

As early as 2007, Baculo made public the death threats he received and even sought the help of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines which, in turn, asked the government for assistance. The broadcaster was forced to go into hiding after receiving threats from influential personalities that he offended. He killers have been hired to silence him.

 

He said the first hit man contracted to kill him backed out and told him about the plot on his life. After this, those out to get him hired other killers to hunt him down.

 

Baculo was then publisher of the local tabloid “Traveler’s News" in Calapan City and former host of the radio program “Isumbong Mo Kay Ka Nilo."

 

In 2008, the broadcaster filed a petition for a writ of amparo with the Supreme Court. The SC granted the protection order for Baculo, the first ever issued to a journalist.

 

Roque said when Baculo applied for protection order, the broadcastser stated under oath that locally elected officials engages in the illegal drug trade were out to kill him.

 

The Court of Appeals, however, denied a writ of amparo for Baculo as this was allegedly not supported by evidence beyond the say so of the broadcaster.

 

"In any case, the killing of Nilo (Baculo) should prompt our courts to be more circumspect in dismissing applications for protection orders. While a wrongfully issued writ will not hurt anyone, a person denied of the same could result in the death of the petitioner... There is blood in the hands of the CA Justices who refused Nilo (Baculo) protection," said Roque.

Palace condemns killing

 

In a statement, NUJP chairperson Rowena Paraan said the present situation demanding for justice may seem to be an exercise in futility but they will not give in to despair and cynicism and instead will continue to cry out for justice.

 

“We will continue to call out Mr. Aquino, as we have called out the presidents before him, for their accountability in our colleagues’ deaths, not least of all because of their apathy,” she said.

 

She added the group will not get tired of pointing out the failure of the government to protect its own citizens and make it "accountable for every extrajudicial killing that makes a mockery of all claims to our being a democracy.”

 

“We will never tire of urging our colleagues and our people to join us in demanding accountability and justice. For, more than apathetic or even complicit government, the other sure way to ensure that the impunity with which extrajudicial killings are committed will continue to thrive is indifference,” she further said.—Amita O. Legaspi, Joel Locsin and Kimberly Jane Tan/NB/KG, GMA News