Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Oro media wear black to protest violence

CAGAYAN DE ORO JOURNAL (Ben Balce / April 25) - Mediamen in Cagayan de Oro yesterday wore black to show protest on the recent killing of a police reporter and a provincial correspondent that was wounded last week.

The Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in Cagayan de Oro on Tuesday asked their colleagues to wear black and make yesterday (Wednesday) “black”.

Palacios was found dead on April 18, in Mapalad Village, Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija at about 6:00 a.m. Palacios was the 51st mediaman killed under the Arroyo regime.

Police report said his body showing signs of torture and shot through the chin.

The following day Philippine Daily Inquirer correspondent Delfin Mallari Jr. was wounded when he and DZMM correspondent Johnny Glorioso were ambushed in Lucena City.

COPC president Gerry Orcullo said wearing black is the protest of the recent killing Palacios and a murder attempt against Mallari.

“We expressed outrage at the murder of Palacios and a murder attempt against Mallari in a black day today for press freedom,” said Orcullo.

Orcullo also called on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to "take fresh steps to counter violence against the press.

“This government should not wait for these journalists to abandon their pens and cameras,” said Orcullo adding these killings should completely stop now.

The killings of journalists made our country the world’s most dangerous country for journalists after Iraq according to Orcullo.

The COPC and NUJP, called wearing black “a day of action” in reaction to the wave of violence against the media all over the country.

Last week the NUJP also called the killing of Palacios and murder attempt to Mallari as another "dark period for Philippine media.”

Orcullo also said that journalists in Cagayan de Oro would be definitely holding protests against the latest assaults soonest as possible.

“Mindanao media men are decrying to unsolved cases since democracy was restored in the Philippines in 1986,” said Orcullo.


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