Police probe the crime scene where radio commentator Rogelio ‘Tata’ Butalid was shot outside of Radyo Natin Tagum in Sobrecary Street last Wednesday past 9am. (davaotoday.com photo by Earl O. Condeza)
Butalid is the third journalist killed in the country in the past three weeks, all in Mindanao, following Joas Dignos in Valencia, Bukidnon on November 29 and Michael Milo in Surigao City on December 9.
“Someone said fear and anxiety make impunity thrive. My impression is forgetting is the bigger enemy of accountability, and the biggest ally of impunity. When we forget, we allow criminals or human rights violators to get away with murder,” said Carlos Conde, Philippine researcher for Human Rights Watch.
“It can happen to any of us. Even because of a mere police story. As long as someone wants to silence you.” So says multi-awarded journalist and editor-in-chief Stella Estremera after a trial court found her and former publisher Antonio Ajero guilty of libel for publishing an alleged one-sided news article 10 years ago.
By DAVAO TODAY
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines Davao City Chapter (NUJP-Davao) has issued a statement condemning Dela Rosa’s “arrogance and disrespect” towards members of the media. “Such arrogance and disrespect by Dela Rosa towards members of the press is condemnable,” the NUJP-Davao said. “His attitude is reflective of the whole Davao City police personnel who actually treated people in the same manner as they beat up the barricaders indiscriminately including women and children.”
By MARILOU AGUIRRE-TUBURAN
Davao Today
Brad Adams, Asia director for the Human Rights Watch, said the Ampatuan massacre has “brought to light” the dangers posed by private armies, militias, and paramilitaries in the country “but the administration of President Benigno Aquino III has not seriously addressed the problem.”
By MARILOU AGUIRRE-TUBURAN
Davao Today
Joel Mahinay of the Union of People’s Lawyers in Mindanao said that “the ruling is anathema to the nature of a public trial and transparency,” adding that the trial “involves public interest which any invocation of the individual right of the accused must be subordinated.”
By ALEX D. LOPEZ
Davao Today
“Usually, because of the nature of our work, we are assigned outside the place where we were registered. This is the reason why a lot of media workers cannot vote,” Jessie Casalda, the chairperson of NUJP-Davao, noted.
By CHERYLL D. FIEL
Davao Today
Demands for decent wages, according to the NUJP-Davao “cannot be put on hold, especially not with RMN doing good business, raking in huge profits.”
By Marilou Aguirre-Tuburan
