Press Release
October 10, 2007

KIKO CONDEMNS ATTACK ON ILIGAN BROADCASTER

Senate Majority Leader Kiko Pangilinan condemned the brazen attack on Iligan City broadcast journalist Jose Pantoja and called on the PNP to "pursue all legal means" to capture the still unidentified perpetrators of the crime.

"This latest attack on an Iligan broadcaster reflects the deplorable condition of journalism practitioners in particular and of human rights in general in this country. Nakakahiya lalo na para sa isang demokratikong bansa ang ganitong uri ng mga pag-atake sa mga mamamahayag. Hindi ito dapat nangyayari at lalung hindi dapat ito pinapayagang mangyari."

Pantoja was shot and seriously wounded by two motorcycle-riding gunmen last Oct 8, 2007. The broadcaster is still in critical condition at the Iligan Sanitarium and Hospital.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and other organizations simultaneously condemned the assassination attempt on Pantoja, an independent commentator of local radio station DXLS.

Add to our already notorious record of extra-judicial killings, at least 32 journalists have been murdered in relation to their work since 1992, making the Philippines the 5th deadliest nation for journalists.

"It is shameful that we extol our 'free press' yet our journalists are being gunned down left and right in broad daylight and our authorities cannot even name the culprits!" Kiko said.

"The buck stops with the PNP to resolve this case swiftly and arrest the perpetrators. The courts, on the other hand, must swiftly dispose of the case and ensure that the guilty are punished. Only with a higher conviction rate can we restore fear in the hearts of would be criminals and regain a greater respect for the rule of law.

This dismal reputation of our country speaks much about the competence - or lack thereof, of our police and the inability of our justice system to punish the guilty. The chilling effect created by these unabated assaults on journalists is not just an attack on the people's right to free speech but is also a blow on our rule of law and democracy. The PNP and the entire justice system need to step up their efforts fast to curb this unacceptable state of human rights in the country," Kiko ended.

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