Filipino journalists mourn fifth colleague murdered this year
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is concerned over the escalating pattern of violence against journalists in the Philippines following the murder of the fifth journalist there this year.
According to the IFJ affiliate, the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP), Philip Agustin, publisher and editor of the Starline Times Recorder was shot shortly before midnight on Tuesday, 10 May 2005 inside his home in Dingalan, in Aurora province.
"Agustin's death follows an all too familiar and sickening pattern - an outspoken journalist silenced after speaking out against corruption in high places," said IFJ President Christopher Warren.
Just over a week ago, on 4 May, radio journalist, Klein Cantoneros, was killed after a drive-by shooting in Dipolog City, Mindanao.
Agustin was shot in the head in his kitchen while his daughter was preparing the family meal after returning home from Cabanatuan City with 500 copies of his newspaper.
According to Agustin's family, he had received death threats since the week before connected to an article in an issue of his newspaper on reports of corruption allegations in Dingalan featuring Dingalan mayor, Jaime Ylarde.
In an interview on GMA-7 television, Ylarde denied all allegations of his connection to Agustin's killing and has pledged he would expedite the murder investigation, if only to clear his name.
The IFJ is calling on the Philippines police to launch a full and thorough investigation into the Agustin killing and bring those responsible to justice.
Agustin is the fifth journalist to be killed in the Philippines during 2005, following the deaths of 13 journalists in 2004 and the 68th since 1986.
"The practically state sanctioned violence in the Philippines is giving the country one of the worst records for journalists' safety in the world," said Warren.
For further information contact Christopher Warren on +61 411 656 668
The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in 110 countries worldwide
