PNP investigating journalist shot dead in Sultan Kudarat
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police is investigating the shooting of a radio reporter and electoral candidate in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat.
In a statement, the Police Regional Office in Soccsksargen said that Jaynard Angeles, a reporter for the Radio ni Juan Radio Station who is running for councilor in Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat was shot at Park Sampaguita in Brgy. New Carmen on Wednesday morning.
"The victim was in Falle Auto Repair Shop to have his vehicle checked and repaired when two unidentified individuals approached and shot him in the head resulting to his instantaneous death. The suspects immediately fled to an unknown direction on board a Kawasaki Bajaj motorcycle," PRO-12 said.
Tacurong City Police Station has already conducted hot pursuit operations against the suspects, Police Brig. Gen Alexander Tagum, PRO-12 Director said.
The local station has also been directed to fast track the conduct of investigation and identification of the suspects.
Tagum said PRO-12 condemns the killing of the members of journalists which he said "affects the freedom of the press to perform their duty without fear."
“PRO 12 will exert all efforts for the identification of the perpetrators to ensure that the death of Jaynard Angeles will be brought to justice. Likewise, I urge the public who may have information regarding the incident to come forward to expedite the resolution of the case,” Tagum appealed.
Per the PNP's Procedures in the Investigation of Heinous and Sensational Crimes, shootings against media practitioners are considered heinous crimes.
'Media security focal persons'
Later that day, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security welcomed the Interior Department's directive to designate officers of the Philippine National Police as Media Security Focal Persons in each province and city nationwide.
Undersecretary Joel Egco, executive director of the PTFoMS called the move a "significant milestone to shield journalists from threats and other forms of violence throughout the archipelago."
According to Egco, as the “first line of defense” of journalists even in the most far-flung areas of the country, the Focal Persons will be the first to receive and respond to all threats leveled against any media worker.
They will also coordinate directly with the assigned PTFoMS Special Agents in expediting the resolution of cases of violence against journalists.
The undersecretary cited the increasing incidents of violence against journalists before, during, and after the elections but went on to claim that "the Philippine media remains free, colorful and vibrant as ever."
Earlier, the Philippines fell two places in Reporters Without Borders' World Press Freedom Index for this year after it ranked 138th among 180 countries.
At least 23 journalists have already been killed in the nearly six years of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
— Franco Luna
Dennis Denora, a Sun.Star reporter and publisher of the Trends and Times community paper, has been shot dead by unidentified killers, according to the Davao chapter of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.
Denora was killed near the wet market of Panabo City in Davao Del Norte on Thursday afternoon, NUJP Davao says.
The Davao del Norte Press & Radio-TV Club says in a statement that is is angered and saddened by news of the killing.
"His death awakens the anger and pains of journalists who do their job and yet are being judged by the pistol," the group also says.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines reports four student journalists of The Democrat, student publication of University of Nueva Caceres were intimidated and subjected to surveillance by members of the Philippine Army.
"The other soldiers took their photos without consent. Democrat editor-in-chief Aila Joy Esperida protested, and told the soldiers to delete the photos. She also asked for the identity of the soldier asking for their personal data. The soldier introduced himself as Sergeant Creo," NUJP says.
It adds that students were asked what they were doing at the plaza and claimed that they will be holidng a rally. NUJP says Creo went to say "that activists are often recruited to the New People's Army."
"The following day, Esperida received a letter signed by their barangay captain summoning her and her parents for a dialogue with the Philippine Army on Sept. 24. On Sept. 23, The Democrat photojournalist John Harvee Cabal also received a similar letter from their barangay," NUJP reports.
A Mexican journalist was shot to death in a store parking lot on Saturday in the southern tourist town of Acapulco, regional authorities said, in the country's second journalist killing in a week.
Prosecutors said they have opened an investigation for homicide with a firearm in the killing of Nelson Matus, days after the body of fellow journalist Luis Martin Sanchez was found "with signs of violence" after he had been reported missing. — AFP
A regional correspondent for leading Mexican newspaper La Jornada was found dead on Saturday, a day after he went missing in the western state of Nayarit, the daily said.
"A body found in the village of Huachines... in the municipality of Tepic was identified as Luis Martin Sanchez Iniguez, 59 years old, correspondent for La Jornada," the Mexico City newspaper said on its website.
The journalist's wife, Cecilia Lopez, told investigators that she had been unaware of his whereabouts since Wednesday night, when she was in another town visiting relatives, the newspaper reported, citing local authorities.
Sanchez Iniguez's body was found on Saturday morning in a rural area near Tepic, the capital of Nayarit. Some unconfirmed local media reports said he was found wrapped in plastic bags and had a message on his chest.
Sanchez was at home Wednesday night and spoke to his wife on the phone. — AFP
A respected South African investigative journalism organisation has won a legal battle against a powerful businessman in a case that tested the country's media freedom.
The amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism had earlier been barred from using documents acquired from a source in its reporting on controversial businessman Zunaid Moti -- who claimed they were stolen.
But High Court Judge Roland Sutherland on Monday set aside that order, describing it as "an abuse of the process of court". — AFP
The amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism draws its name from the Zulu word for dung beetle -- a diligent species that fulfils a crucial role.
The tiny South African non-profit specialises in delving into political corruption -- "digging dung and fertilizing democracy," its editor-in-chief, Sam Sole, said with a chuckle in a recent interview with AFP.
Sole, a lean and bearded 61-year-old, has had little opportunity for laughter of late.
His organisation has been running a lengthy investigation into a powerful businessman accused of unscrupulous business dealings, including with President Emmerson Mnangagwa of neighbouring Zimbabwe.
The probe has unleashed a legal and financial headache for the centre as it faces a full-throated challenge from Zunaid Moti, the tycoon in question.
The case reaches a key stage on Tuesday when the High Court will hear Moti's objections that the investigation is based on stolen documents which should be handed over.
The outcome has huge importance for whistleblowers who until now have been largely shielded from identification by the law. — AFP
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