Journalist couple shot dead in the Philippines

George Vigo and his wife, Macel Alave-Vigo, both journalists, were murdered in the Philippines Tuesday. The two were walking home from a public market on the island of Mindao when they were shot by men on a motorcycle, according to media reports. They died on the way to the hospital, according to Reuters, which quoted local police.

STOP THE KILLINGS: Protesters hold up pictures of leftist activists and journalists during a protest outside the military headquarters in Manila May 23, 2006. The demonstrators were protesting against the Philippines government's failure to stop a spate of murders of leftist activists and journalists. Human rights advocates and leftist groups have blamed the government for the killings and disappearances of 135 journalists and activists since President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo assumed power in 2001. Arroyo has denied the allegations. (Reuters/Romeo Ranoco)

Vigo was a contributor to Union of Catholic Asian News (UCAN), while his wife was a presenter of a radio programme on dxND. The couple also contributed to the creation of the Federation of Reporters for Empowerment and Equality (FREE). The two had previously been active in left-wing student groups, according to The Associated Press.

“We call on authorities to conduct a full investigation into the circumstances of the death of George and Mazel Vigo,” said Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Executive Director Ann Cooper. “Until there is justice for the many Philippine journalists who have been killed for their work, the murders are sure to continue.”

“The Philippines is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists,” the press freedom organisation said. “We call on the police to deploy all the necessary resources to identify and punish those responsible for these murders. We also urge the authorities to give journalists better protection.”

“How many journalists have to die before the president of the Philippines takes concrete, decisive and meaningful action to stop the slaughter?” said IFJ president Christopher Warren. It is unclear whether the murder was motivated by Vigo’s journalistic work, but IFJ has called for a full investigation.

“The government of the Philippines simply must do more to protect journalists and their families,” said Warren, “There can be no meaningful democracy in the Philippines without press freedom, and journalists’ safety.”

CANDLES FOR COLLEAGUES: Media practitioners in 18 cities and provinces in the Philippines wore black and bid goodbye their slain colleague Fernando “Dong” Batul of Puerto Princesa, Palawan – the 42nd journalist killed since 2001 and 79th since 1986. Expressing outrage at the unsolved murders, they lighted 79 candles to represent their 79 murdered colleagues. With the killings of George Vigo and Macel Alave-Vigo the toll has gone up to 44 and 81 respectively. (National Union of Journalists, Philippines)

With this, six journalists have been killed in the Philippines this year and 44 since Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo came to power in 2001, more than those killed under the 14-year Marcos dictatorship, according to the National Union of Journalists Philippines (NUJP). The Philippines was second only to Iraq in the number of journalists who died there last year. This year too the ranking remains unchanged.

The Philippine government has been criticised in recent weeks for passing a law permitting journalists to protect themselves by carrying arms. “Weapons will not bring peace,” said Warren, “The idea of arming journalists in an attempt to reduce killings would be comical if the consequences were not so dire.”

“We do not need and do not want bodyguards or guns,” NUJP said in a recent statement, “We do not wish to add to the bloody mayhem that has claimed the lives of so many of our colleagues. The best and only way to end these killings is for authorities to relentlessly pursue, arrest, prosecute and convict the killers. Only the surety that the guilty will be punished will dissuade those with murder on their minds.”