The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is extremely saddened by reports that Cavite-based freelance photojournalist Dodie Nuez was killed in an attack on May 21.
According to IFJ affiliate the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Nuez was on his way home when he was ambushed by a group of men and shot dead. Another person was also injured during the attack.
IFJ president Christopher Warren said Nuezs death was a tragic indictment on the Philippines media safety record.
The IFJ sends its deep condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Dodie Nuez at this devastating time, Warren said.
The life of a photojournalist is never easy, but even given the danger and volatility Dodie faced in the Philippines it seems a senseless loss, he said.
It is unclear whether the attack had any relation to Nuezs role as a photojournalist. His work was predominantly used for the news tabloid Katapat.
This brings the number of journalists killed in the Philippines this year to four, almost one per month.
Dodie Nuez is the 52nd journalist to die in the Philippines since Gloria Macapal-Arroyo became president, Warren said.
As President Arroyo tours Australia and New Zealand this week, we urge her and her government to take action on these shocking statistics, denounce violence against journalists and work toward prosecution for the perpetrators.
The IFJ, the organisation that represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 115 countries, appeals to the government to bring the killers to justice and to take serious measures to protect journalists in the country.
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