Articles by Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR)
Broadcaster survives assassination attempt
(CMFR/IFEX) – An unknown gunman shot a radio broadcaster on 12 June 2003 in Cebu City. The broadcaster survived the assassination attempt. According to reports, Reynaldo Cortes, aged 30, a “blocktimer” at radio station dyDD Bantay Radyo (Radio Watch), was hit in the right groin. (Blocktimers buy air time from radio stations for their own […]
Two individuals arrested in connection with broadcaster’s slaying
(CMFR/IFEX) – Two men believed to be bodyguards of a local politician were arrested on 22 May 2003 in connection with the 17 May killing of DWTI-AM radio announcer Apolinario “Polly” Pobeda, in Lucena City, Quezon, central Philippines. Press reports quoted Senior Superintendent Ricardo Padilla, Quezon police director and head of “Task Force Polly”, saying […]
Lucena broadcaster killed
(CMFR/IFEX) – Two men on a motorcycle shot and killed a radio broadcaster on 17 May 2003 in Lucena City, Quezon province, south of Manila. The murder happened less than three weeks after a similar tandem gunned down another broadcaster in Legazpi City, Albay. Apolinario “Polly” Pobeda, aged 35, an announcer on local radio station […]
Armed men destroy radio station’s equipment
(CMFR/IFEX) – At least three armed men broke into a local radio station in Surigao del Sur, southern Philippines, and destroyed all its equipment before dawn on 14 March 2003, the Manila newspaper “Philippine Star” reported on 15 March. Wearing ski masks and armed with pistols and an M-16 rifle, the men arrived at the […]
Correspondent receives death threats over story
(CMFR/IFEX) – A correspondent for the Philippines’ most widely circulated newspaper has received death threats after submitting a news story about Augusto Sanchez, the chief of staff for Pampanga province Vice-Governor Miguel Arroyo. Arroyo is President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s son. “Philippine Daily Inquirer” Central Luzon correspondent Tonette Orejas is under police protection. On 15 March 2003, […]
Journalist’s widow files complaint against ex-police camp commander
(CMFR/IFEX) – The widow of a murdered Filipino journalist recently filed both criminal and administrative cases against a former provincial police commander after the primary suspect in the killing, a policeman under restrictive supervision within the commander’s camp, escaped after an arrest warrant was issued against him. Through a relative, Gemma Damalerio, widow of slain […]
Suspect in journalist’s slaying escapes police custody
(CMFR/IFEX) – The alleged killer of Pagadian City journalist Edgar Damalerio has escaped from police custody after a local judge hearing his case ordered his arrest. Several media organisations have expressed alarm over the escape. The media groups have also accused police of protecting the suspect, police officer Guillermo Wapille, and obstructing justice. On 30 […]
Judge orders arrest of police officer suspected of killing journalist
(CMFR/IFEX) – A local judge has ordered the arrest of a policeman suspected of killing a journalist eight months ago in Pagadian city, southern Philippines, after the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed the suspect’s petition for review of the criminal case proceedings against him. In an order signed on 30 January 2003, Executive Judge Franklyn […]