With Bohol broadcaster's murder, PHL still among deadliest places for journalists – CPJ

With the murder last weekend of a radio commentator in Bohol, an international media watchdog group on Wednesday said the Philippines could still be one of the world's most dangerous places to be a journalist.

 

The New York City-based Committee to Protect Journalists said the killing of Maurito Lim last Feb. 14 shows killers of journalists are as bold as ever under President Benigno Aquino III's watch.

 

"The Philippines will remain one of the world's most dangerous places to be a journalist until President Aquino's government shows stronger resolve in prosecuting cases like Lim's and breaking the cycle of impunity in all media murders," said CPJ senior Southeast Asia representative Shawn Crispin.

 

CPJ urged Philippine authorities to investigate Lim's murder and bring the assailant to justice.

 

Lim, who hosted a program over dyRD radio in Tagbilaran City, was shot as he was getting out of his car. Also known as "Chairman Mao", Lim had been critical of officials linked to the drug trade, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said.

 

The CPJ pointed out that Aquino said in October 2014 that his government aimed to stop attacks on the press "until this number reaches zero."

 

"At least nine journalists have been killed for their work since Aquino was elected president in May 2010, according to CPJ research. In the same period, 18 reporters, including Lim, have been killed in cases where the motive is unclear," it said.

 

CPJ said the Philippines ranks third on its Impunity Index, a global measure of unsolved journalist murders as a percentage of each country's population.

 

"More journalists have been killed in direct relation to their work in the Philippines than anywhere apart from Iraq and Syria since CPJ began keeping detailed records in 1992," it said. — Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News