Media Groups Demand Probe of Alleged
Military ‘Hit List’
Is there a military hit
list on the press? The report, which media groups have asked government to
investigate, came out in the wake of the recent killing of two more
journalists and media protests. Police denied receiving any report about
the hit list.
By Karl Ombion
Bulatlat
BACOLOD CITY – Is
there a military hit list on the press?
This question has
surfaced as members of various media organizations led by the National
Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) took to the streets Nov. 17
to condemn the spate of killings against the press. Protest marches and
rallies joined by hundreds of journalists from the tri-media were held in
Manila, Davao,
Bacolod, Cebu, Iloilo,
Baguio, Lucena and other cities.
Reports of the
existence of a “military hit list” targeting at least two journalists in
each province came out last week. NUJP leaders headed by President Inday
Espina Varona, editor of Philippine Graphic, and provincial press leaders
asked government particularly the Philippine National Police’s Task Force
Newsman to investigate the reports.
In a media protest
rally here on Wednesday, Bombo reporter Rhey Siazon announced that he has
received “reliable information” from intelligence sources about a “grand
plan” to assassinate journalists in every province.
At least two
journalists in every province are marked for liquidation, Siazon said, and
the next victims could be broadcasters in
Bacolod.
He said however that his source gave no details on the names of
particularly targets, when and how the operations would be carried out.
Negros police
intelligence authorities denied receiving similar reports. They however
assured local journalists about police protection and investigation to
give justice to the victims of media repression.
Psywar tactic
Some reporters, like
Jef Gelangre of Liga Journalista, said the “hit list” could just be a
psywar tactic of the military to force some journalists, especially the
progressive ones, not to rock the boat. A Radyo Agong broadcaster
confirmed receiving reports but speculated the supposed “hit list” could
have been the handiwork of gambling lords out to silence Western Visayas’
hard-hitting journalists.
Both police and
military intelligence authorities have in the past admitted keeping a
watch list on journalists some of whom, they also admitted, were under
surveillance. Most of those in the watch list were known to have
interviewed or have access in line of their duty, to the underground left,
Moro rebels and alleged coup plotters.
In the same protest
rallies here, media leaders also took turns blaming the government for its
inability to stop the media killings – with 10 journalists slain so far
this year. The killings were blamed on criminal syndicates, local
politicians and even police and military elements.
Liga Journalista’s
Gelangre slammed the government for its failure to bring to the bar of
justice the criminals and brains behind the media killings. Bombo Radyo
anchorperson Nick Mariño urged all journalists to fight back and to
continue the struggle for press freedom.
At least a hundred
journalists and 300 supporters held a rally at the Fountain of Justice
Hall in City hall here. Speakers took turns condemning the brutal slaying
on Nov. 13 of Herson “Boy” Hinolan, Bombo Radyo Aklan station Manager.
Hinolan, 38, married, and a native of Talisay City, Negros Occidental was
shot at close range.
The protesters came
from the Negros Press Club (NPC); Congress of Active Media Practitioners
(CAMP); Liga Journalista, an organization of young journalists;
Correspondents, Broadcast and Reporters-Action News Services (COBRA-ANS)
and beat reporters’ club; the Defense Press Corps; City Hall Press Corps;
and journalists from almost all the broadcast and print media outlets in
the city. Two councilors, one of whom was a former broadcaster, also
joined the rally.
Liga Journalista
Earlier, young Negros
journalists belonging to the Liga Journalista marched from the streets of
Bacolod to the Fountain of Justice, where the bigger rally was held. The
University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos
(UNO-R) Mass Communication Department headed by Dean Carlos Legaspi,
Bayan-Negros, Anakpawis, Gabriela, Migrante, joined the protests.
After the rally, the
protesters marched to the BREDCO
Port where the boat bringing
Hinolan’s remains was to dock. After being blessed by a priest, the
remains were brought to Talisay City, his hometown, in a caravan of about
50 other vehicles.
Hinolan’s body in a
handsome silver coffin was brought back to Roxas
City Nov. 18 where he will be
buried upon the wish of his wife who hails from Kalibo, Aklan.
Days earlier in Panay,
NUJP and journalists from various media outlets wore black armbands in a
show of protest. As the body of Hinolan was being transported from Kalibo
to Iloilo
City, Ilonggos lined up the streets,
offered flowers and lit candles.
In a related
development, the Negros chapter of the College Editors Guild of the
Philippine (CEGP) denounced the continued attack on the members of the
media and the alternative press, as an assault on press freedom.
In its press
statement, CEGP said “we are not yet through with the recent slay of Chris
Misajon of GMA TV6 Iloilo, and we are again shocked by the successive
brutal murders of Bombo Herson “Boy” Hinolan, and Gene Boyd Lumawag, photo
editor of MindaNews, and Batangas news reporter Pillorin.”
CEGP also said that
“the attacks on mainstream media is not an isolated incident” because
campus editors and writers, and those now serving the mainstream media
have also been victims of censorship, harassments and killings.
It cited, among
others, the case of Beng Hernandez, CEGP Vice-President for Mindanao, who
was illegally arrested, tortured and killed in Mindanao last April 2002;
Llyod Sato, Vice-President for Visayas who was also abducted and tortured
in October 2002; Cecil San Luis, chairperson of CEGP in Central Luzon who
was arrested and tortured during 1st semester this year; and Kara Noveda,
Secretary General of CEGP-Cebu chapter who was tagged as terrorist, her
picture appeared on local Television channels. With other reports /
Bulatlat
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