Another RMN broadcaster shot dead in Roxas City
A broadcast journalist of the Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) in Roxas City, Capiz who is also an officer of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in the province was shot and killed in a broad daylight attack on Thursday.
The murder of Martin Roxas, 32, anchorman of RMN station dyVR and host of the station’s noontime program, Targetanay sa Udto, by two motorcycle-riding gunmen, came three days after another RMN broadcaster, Dennis Cuesta, was seriously hurt in a shooting attack in General Santos City. Cuesta still lies in a comatose state up to this time.
Reports from Capiz said Roxas, who is auditor of the NUJP-Capiz, had just finished his program and left the radio station in Barangay (village) Punta Tabuc at 1 p.m. on his motorcycle when the gunmen pursued him.
The gunmen shot him around a kilometer away from the city proper and fled, said John Heredia, NUJP- Capiz chairman.
Roxas died past 2 p.m. at the Capiz Emmanuel Hospital, to which he was rushed, from a bullet that hit his spinal column, Chief Supt. Isagani Cuevas, Western Visayas police director, said.
Police are investigating two persons who were intercepted at a checkpoint.
Cuevas also said a task force headed by Senior Supt. Josephus Angan, Capiz provincial police director, has been formed to investigate
Roxas’ murder. He also said the investigation will look into the possibility the killing was work-related since Roxas tackled various issues.
According to Heredia, Roxas had told colleagues and co-employees that he was beaten up by a group of young men last week. He said they are still determining if this was related to the shooting.
Roxas is the fourth journalist to be murdered this year and the 59th since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo came to power in 2001.
Roxas, 32, anchorman of Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) station dyVR and host of the station’s midday program “Targetanay sa Udto” was shot by two unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle as he left the radio station in Barangay village at 1pm.
Colleagues reportedly informed police that Roxas, who was also auditor for the Capiz chapter of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), an IFJ affiliate, had been beaten by a group of young men last week.
Roxas is the second RMN broadcaster to be targeted this week. Dennis Cuesta, program director for the dxMD program on the RMN network is currently fighting for his life after suffering three bullet wounds to his head in an attack in General Santos City on August 4.
Roxas is the fourth journalist to be murdered this year and the 59th since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took power in 2001.
“It is with great distress that the IFJ reports that Roxas’ murder and the attack on Cuesta have seen the Philippines return to the top of the most dangerous countries in the Asia-Pacific region for journalists so far in 2008,” IFJ Asia-Pacific said.
“The IFJ welcomes reports that the Capiz provincial police have established a taskforce to investigate Roxas’ shooting and that two persons have been detained.”
The IFJ joins the NUJP in appealing to the RMN network and local authorities to provide extra security and protection for journalists, particularly as they travel to and from work.
“Only through public condemnation and the active pursuit of justice will authorities send a clear message that such heinous attacks will not be tolerated.”
The IFJ extends its deep sympathy to Roxas’ family and friends, to the NUJP, and to the Radio Mindanao Network for the shocking attacks on two of its journalists this week.
sources:
http://http://www.nujp.org/pr/pr08/praug8- %20ifj_roxas.html
http://www.nujp.org/pr/pr08/praug8-nujp_roxas.html
