Philippines

A journalist from Bangued was unharmed after gunmen fired at her family's house on May 14, delayed reports have said. Bangued is the capital of Abra, a province approximately 408 km northwest of Manila. Marjorie Bandayrel-Trinidad, news editor of the weekly community newspaper Abra Today, said she and her husband were awakened by the sound of breaking glass at around 3:30 a.m. (local time) on May...

The Court of Appeals (CA) in Manila has turned down a reconsideration motion filed by the president's spouse, Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, to stop the hearing of the class suit filed against him by 36 journalists and three media organisations, the Manila-based Centre for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) has reported. On February 24, the CA's former Seventh Division affirmed its September 22...

Ernesto Rollin, a presenter on local radio DxSY-AM in Ozamiz City, in Misamis Occidental province (on the southern island of Mindanao) was killed on February 23. He was the first journalist to be killed this year in the Philippines, but the 99th since the return to democracy in 1986. Aged about 40, Rollin was gunned down at close range at about 5:30 a.m. in a service station in nearby Oroquieta...

A judge in the Philippines has lifted the warrant of arrest he himself had issued against the alleged killers of radio broadcaster Dennis Cuesta. Judge Isaac Alvero Moran, of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 36, of General Santos City, on February 12 revoked the February 3 warrant of arrest issued against Police Inspector Redempto "Boy" Acharon and several other suspects in the killing of...

Press freedom groups in the Philippines have called on the Senate to withdraw its invitation to a reporter to appear before the inquiry into the alleged corruption in World Bank (WB)-funded road projects, saying doing so might be “undue interference” in his work as a journalist. The Senate Committee on Economic Affairs headed by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago has summoned Newsbreak senior writer...

A broadcast journalist was killed by two unidentified gunmen in a southern Philippine city, according to news reports. Badrodin Abas, 38, was shot in the head by two motorcycle-riding gunmen late Wednesday in Cotabato City, 930km south of Manila, according to the city's police chief, Senior Superintendent Willie Dangane. Dangane said the victim, a broadcaster for a radio station in Cotabato, was...

A Davao broadcaster was released on December 23, 2008 after having spent almost two years in prison in Davao del Norte following his conviction on charges of libel, according to Manila-based Centre for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR). Davao is a province located approximately 946 km south of Manila. Libel is a criminal offence in the Philippines. Alexander Adonis, formerly of Bombo Radyo...

Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) has expressed concern over a murder attempt on Filipino radio journalist Cherie “Katribung Che” Indelible on January 2 in Kalibo, in Aklan province (in the northwest of the Visayas region). Indelible works for local state-owned radio dyYM (Community Broadcasting Information System) as news director and programme host. “With five journalists murdered, 2008 was one of...

A radio commentator was shot dead as he was leaving work, becoming the eighth journalist killed in the Philippines this year, the Associated Press (AP) has reported. Leo Mila, 38, of Radio Natin in San Roque township in Northern Samar province, was heading to the gate of the station's compound on his motorcycle when shots rang out late Tuesday. More from the AP report: [ Link] Authorities found...

A Filipino broadcast journalist was killed Monday in the southern Philippines, news reports said quoting police sources. Aresio Padrigao, a commentator for local radio station DXRS, was shot dead by gunmen aboard a motorcycle in Gingoog town in Misamis Oriental province, 795 km south of Manila. Padrigao is the fourth journalist to be killed in the Philippines this year. Last year, four journalists...