PNoy guilty of murder through inaction on media killings – IFJ

An international media watchdog group on Monday said the Aquino administration could be a "guilty" party in the ambush of a Digos City broadcaster last week, due to its perceived inaction against media killings

The Belgium-based International Federation of Journalists called for decisive action from the Philippine government over the murder of Samuel Oliverio, 54, who was gunned down on May 23 in Digos City.

"The Aquino administration’s continued failure to protect the journalists of the Philippines has perpetuated an environment where journalists are murdered in their homes, on the street and in public. The horrific depth of impunity in the Philippines means that attackers do not even bother to shield their identities when they are carrying out these horrific assassinations," IFJ Asia Pacific acting director Jane Worthington said.

"Samuel Oliverio’s killing cannot be ignored or disregarded as so many others have been – again it highlights how the Aquino government has been proven to be guilty of murder by its own inaction,” she added.

IFJ called on the government to "take much-needed decisive action to aim at curbing the disturbing number of attacks directed at the broadcast media."

Citing information from the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, the IFJ said Oliverio was on his way home from the public market when he was shot.

The two gunmen "did not even bother to cover their faces," it said.

Quoting Oliverio's colleagues in Digos, the group said the victim "was known for his scathing commentaries on local politics and that he used to deliver strong views on his program against the proliferation of illegal gambling and illegal drugs in the city."

Oliverio is the third journalist killed in the Philippines this year and the 28th killed under President Benigno Aquino III's administration.

“We can almost predict what comes next: Police setting up another of those useless task forces that have so far failed to nail any of the masterminds in the 163 media murders before Oliverio’s, and the government vowing to bring his case to 'justice' just as it has failed to do with all the other cases,” it quoted NUJP chairperson Rowena Paraan as saying.

Last Friday, Palace spokesman Herminio Coloma Jr. said the Philippine National Police has been instructed "to exert maximum efforts to track the assailants and bring them before the bar of justice."

Malacañang made a similar statement after Cavite-based journalist Rubylita Garcia was killed outside her home in April. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News