By Kristy Tridhavee
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Asia
MANILA, Philippines – A man on a motorcycle gunned down a Benefredo Acabal, a local newspaper columnist for the Cavite paper The Filipino Newsmen, on Monday, April 7th. According to police reports, Benefredo Acabal was shot five times in the head and body. He died on his way to the hospital. Benefredo Acabal is the first journalist to have been killed in the Philippines this year.
The Philippines is regarded as the most dangerous places for journalists afterIraq. Since 2001, when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo came into office, 56 reporters have been killed. Between 1986 and 2001 there were 35 journalists killed.
Local police, however, are reluctant to connect Benefredo Acabal’s murder to his profession yet. Police Officer Lardy Ignacio said, “We’re still trying to establish the motive for the killing.” He added that it was too soon to say the murder was work-related.
Journalism in the Philippines creates dangers risk for reporters. There are many investigative stories about drug trafficking, gambling and other illegal activities, and underpaid reporters sometimes take bribes to report specific stories.
The Philippine government has been widely criticized for its inability to protect reporters, left-wing politicians, and students. Nearly a thousand persons have been murdered or disappeared in similar situations like Benefredo Acabal. But there have yet to be any convictions regarding past killings. The UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions, Philippine human rights groups, and HRW have all pointed to strong evidence of military involvement in the disappearances and murders.
For more information, please see:
GMA News TV – Cavite Journalist Slain in Pasig Shooting Incident – 8 April 2008
Impunity Watch – No Convictions in Extrajudicial Killings in Philippines – 4 April 2008
Philippine Star – Another Journalist Killed in Pasig – 8 April 2008
Reuters – Gunman Kills Newspaper Columnist in Philippines – 8 April 2008 – 8 April 2008
