Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR)

(CMFR/IFEX) – On 14 February 2004, at around 7:50 p.m. (local time), a radio commentator in Santiago City, Isabela (approximately 328 kilometres from Manila), survived a grenade attack on his house by four unidentified men. DWSI host-anchorman Modesto “Odie” Gutierrez said he and his family were watching television when the incident occurred. He told CMFR […]

(CMFR/IFEX) – A radio broadcaster was murdered in Legazpi City, Albay Province, approximately 556 kilometres south of Manila, on 11 February 2004. He was the 44th journalist to be killed in the Philippines since 1986, when the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos ended and democracy was restored. Ruel Endrinal was shot by two unidentified men at […]

(CMFR/IFEX) – Radio broadcaster Nelson Nadura was murdered in Masbate, 250 kilometres from Manila, on 2 December 2003. He was the seventh journalist killed this year in the Philippines. CMFR notes that this is the worst recorded number of journalists killed in the Philippines, surpassing the record of six in 1987. Nadura was shot by […]

(CMFR/IFEX) – On 23 November 2003, armed men stormed Radyo Natin (RN) radio station in Lupon town, Davao Oriental (123 kilometres from Davao City, southern Philippines). The men beat up a staff member after he refused to reveal the whereabouts of his boss and an anchor. On 26 November, the Manila-based “Philippine Daily Inquirer” newspaper […]

(CMFR/IFEX) – On 7 November 2003, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo announced that the government is offering a P1,000,000 (approx. US$18,200) reward for the capture of individuals who have killed journalists in the last five years. Arroyo made the announcement during a speech at the 29th Top Level Management Conference of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster […]

(ARTICLE 19/CMFR/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 and CMFR press release: Room for Improvement on Freedom of Expression in the Philippines ARTICLE 19 and the Manila-based Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility have made a submission to the UN Human Rights Committee on freedom of expression in the Philippines, to be considered by […]

(CMFR/IFEX) – On 6 September 2003, radio commentator Juan “Jun” Pala of DXGO in Davao City was shot and killed. He is the sixth journalist slain this year in the Philippines, doubling the average of three journalists killed annually since 1986. Pala survived two earlier attempts on his life on 14 June 2001 and 29 […]

(CMFR/IFEX) – On 26 August 2003, local police revealed to the media the identity of journalist Noel Villarante’s alleged killer. The suspect, Senando Palumbarit, has denied any involvement in the murder, which occurred in Santa Cruz, a town in Laguna province, south of Manila. A 27 August report in the “Philippine Daily Inquirer” newspaper said […]