Romeo Olea, 49, a commentator of DWEB-FM a local radio station in Nabua, Camarines Sur was shot twice in the back by two gunmen on a motorcycle while on his way to the station last June 13.
Following the killing, Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero was prompted to condemn the death of another mediaman in Camarines Sur. He enjoined the local police to get the suspects of this recent crime against journalists.
Escudero said the government should exhaust all means to put a stop to this crime against journalists who have been reporting public anomalies to the people. Undeniably, journalists help the Aquino government’s fight against corruption.
"Journalists, like Romeo, help in our fight against corruption not only in government as well as in our community. The government should exhaust all means to find the perpetrators and have them prosecuted," he added.
Escudero also asked the local police to investigate every possible motive in the killing of Olea and not just stop on recent reports that members of the New People’s Army were the ones behind the murder.
The latest crime against a journalist, likewise, Escudero said doesn’t help the image of the country as one of the world’s most dangerous place for mediamen.
"This latest killing goes to show that even under the current administration the country remains to be a dangerous place for journalists to live and work. Now that we have a new government with new people at the helm, I urge our concerned authorities to maximize the use of our existing institutions to work against these crimes.’
As of March 2011, 98 journalists had been killed in the Philippines since 2000 because of their work including at least 33 in the Ampatuan massacre of November 2009, according to the International Press Institute. /MP
No comments:
Post a Comment