Philippines

New York, June 29, 2009--Police in the Philippines must step up investigations into journalist killings following the shooting death of radio commentator Jonathan Petalvero on Saturday, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Petalvero is the fourth Philippine journalist killed this month, the third to be targeted for murder.

New York, June 25, 2009--The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about pending wiretapping charges against Cecilia "Cheche" Lazaro, a well-known journalist with the broadcaster ABS-CBN. If found guilty of violating the Anti-Wiretapping Act, she faces up to six years in prison. 

New York, June 9, 2009--Police in Mindoro Occidental province should immediately investigate the shooting murder of Philippine radio commentator Crispin Perez for possible links to his reporting, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. 

New York, June 3, 2009--The Committee to Protect Journalists offered condolences today to the family and colleagues of Philippine journalist Jojo Trajano, who was killed in crossfire during a police raid of an alleged organized crime den near Manila. 

New York, May 22, 2009--The Philippine government must address a series of shootings that have targeted journalists on the southern island of Mindanao, the latest coming on Wednesday when gunmen critically wounded a local radio broadcaster, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. 

Gunshots were fired into the home of Abra province journalist Marjorie Bandayrel-Trinidad on May 14, 2009, according to a local press freedom group and news reports. Bandayrel-Trinidad and her husband and child were unhurt, the reports said. Abra is in the north of the Philippines. 

New York, May 20, 2009--The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the Philippines government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to clarify an accusation made by freelance journalist Carlos Conde that his name appeared on a 2007 official Armed Forces "order of battle" document. 

April 2009

News from the Committee to Protect Journalists

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility reports today that a Philippine court has denied a motion to dismiss murder charges against two government officials accused of ordering the 2005 murder of journalist Marlene Garcia-Esperat.

In response to the statement by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's chief aide, Eduardo Ermita, that the 24 murders of journalists in Philippines had all been "properly attended to," we issued this statement today...