The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) condemns the murder of two journalists in as many days in Zamboanga del Sur and Sultan Kudarat provinces.
In a statement, NUJP called for an immediate investigation on the separate killings of Rudy Alicaway and Leo Diaz, demanding the identification, arrest and prosecution of those involved.
Two motorcycle-riding gunned down Alicaway while he was on his way home on Sunday, August 6, in Molave town in Zamboanga del Sur province. The gunmen finished off Alicaway as he tried to crawl away after being shot, according to a report of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, citing a police report.
Alicaway, 46, was a radio anchor of Tigmo-Tigmo program at dxPB 106.9 (Radyo ng Bayan Molave). He was reportedly also a village councilman of Miligan in Molave.
On Monday, August 7, a motorcycle-riding gunman shot Leodoro Diaz after leaving his house in President Quirino town in Sultan Kudarat province. He died from multiple gunshot wounds.
Diaz was a columnist of Sapol Newspaper and a reporter of Radio Mindanao Network.
According to Dabet Panelo, Secretary General of NUJP, their deaths, if work-related, bring to a total of 177 the number of Filipino media workers killed since 1986.
The killings happened in the two provinces of Mindanao even as the whole region is under Martial Law.
This again highlights the culture of impunity in the attacks against and killings of Filipino journalists that have remained unabated despite an international outcry.
