The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and its chapters and members nationwide will mark the burial of Palawan broadcaster Fernando Batul on May 31 with a nationally coordinated action as our way of expressing sympathy with the family and outrage at the murder of another colleague.
Below is the NUJP’s statement:
Palawan broadcaster Fernando “Dong” Batul was gunned down early morning of May 22. He was the 5th journalist killed this year, the 42nd under the Arroyo administration and the 79th since 1986 when press freedom was supposed to have been restored. The hard-hitting journalist known as the “Bastonero ng Palawan” will soon be laid to rest.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) invites all our colleagues in media to join us in bidding Dong Batul goodbye through a candle-lighting ceremony on May 31 at the Boy Scouts Circle (Timog cor. Morato streets, Quezon City) at 6 pm.
We also enjoin our colleagues to wear black t-shirts whole day of May 31 as our way of expressing our grief and outrage at the murder of another journalist.
We say: Enough is enough! Let us cease to be just observers and recorders to the death of democracy. Let us unite and fight the threats to our lives and liberties.
Media organizations in various parts of the country (including in Baguio, Subic, Iloilo, Lucena, Sorsogon, Albay, Pampanga, Laguna, Bacolod, Tacloban, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Pagadian, General Santos and Ozamis), will also hold simultaneous candle-lighting ceremonies.
