List of journalists killed under the Arroyo administration
This is a list of journalists killed in the Philippines under the presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In total, over fifty journalists were murdered under the Arroyo administration.
Sorted by date of death:
2001
Yusop, Muhammad
Muhammad Yusop worked for radio station DXID in Pagadian City. He died on February 24, 2001.Yusop, a commentator for the radio station DXID in Pagadian City, was shot in the back of the head by two men on a motorcycle while he was riding in a three-wheel pedicab. He died on the spot.
Yusop hosted a religious program and was not known to have broadcast any controversial reports. The station manager at DXID, owned by the Islamic Radio Broadcasting Company, said that he was not aware of any threats against Yusop, and no group claimed responsibility for his murder.
Cayona, Candelario "Jhun"
Candelario "Jhun" Cayona worked for radio station DXLL in Zamboanga City. He died on May 30, 2001.Mortel, Joy
Joy Mortel worked for Mindoro Guardian newspaper. She died on May 31, 2001.Mortel, a reporter for the Mindoro Guardian, was killed in her home in Barangay Talabanhan, Occidental Mindoro Province, according to local press reports. Two unidentified armed men reportedly shot Mortel after a heated argument. She died from multiple gunshot wounds.
The motive for Mortel's murder remained unclear at year's end. Local police told the Manila Times that communist rebels had targeted Mortel because of her allegedly questionable financial dealings relating to local cooperatives she had organized in the region. However, police did not exclude the possibility that the murder was related to her journalism.
2002
Hernandez, Benjaline "Beng"
Benjaline "Beng" Hernandez was a member of College Editors Guild of the Philippines in Davao City. She died on April 5, 2002.Damalerio, Edgar
Edgar Damalerio worked for radio station DXKP. He also wrote for Zamboanga Scribe and Mindanao Gold Star in Pagadian City. He died on May 13, 2002.2003
Villanueva, John Belen Jr.
John Belen Villanueva, Jr. worked for radio station DZGB in Legazpi City. He died on April 28, 2003.Pobeda, Apolinario "Polly"
Apolinario "Polly" Pobeda worked for radio station DWTI in Lucena City. He died on May 17, 2003.Gregorio, Bonifacio
Bonifacio Gregorio wrote for Dyaryo Banat in Tarlac City. He died on July 8, 2003.Villarante, Noel
Noel Villarante worked for The Laguna Score newspaper and radio station DZJV. He died on August 19, 2003.Ramirez, Rico
Rico Ramirez worked for DXSF in Butuan City. He died on August 20, 2003.Pala, Juan "Jun"
Juan "Jun" Pala worked for DXGO in Davao City. He died on September 6, 2003.Pala survived two earlier attempts on his life on 14 June 2001 and 29 April 2003. Davao City is approximately 946 kilometres southeast of Manila.
At around 7 p.m., Pala was walking home with his bodyguard and cousin Roberto Porras and friend Fred Luas when attacked by unknown gunmen on board a motorcycle. They were some 300 metres from his house in Davao Empress Subdivision.
The three men were returning from the adjacent Vista Verde Subdivision, where Pala had been visiting a friend. Pala, who sustained nine gunshot wounds to various parts of the body, particularly the chest and arms, was pronounced dead on arrival at San Pedro Hospital. His companions were slightly injured and treated at the same hospital.
Pala's wife, Louise, said her husband aired critical commentaries against various government officials, including Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He had also exposed graft and corruption in the city involving some politicians. After the second attempt on his life, Pala claimed that Mayor Duterte was the most likely culprit.
Duterte declined to comment on Pala's death, saying only that any questions about the incident should be addressed to the police. "Today" also quoted him as saying that he "would be happy to submit to an investigation."
2004
Lumawag, Gene Boyd
-based photojournalist Gene Boyd Lumawag was shot dead by an unidentified gunman in Jolo, the capital of the southern Sulu Province on November 12. Lumawag, 26, was photographing the sunset at the pier in Jolo on the last day of Ramadan in the Muslim-majority area when he was killed by a single bullet to the head. Lumawag had traveled to Jolo with his Mindanews editor Carolyn Arguillas on November 10 to work on a video documentary about transparency and local governing practices for the U.S.-based Asia Foundation. Arguillas said they suspected Abu Sayyaf members were responsible for the killing.2007
Lintuan, Ferdie
On December 24 at 9:40 a.m., Ferdie "Batman" Lintuan, after finishing his morning show, left DXGO, an AM station owned by the Manila Broadcasting Company, driving his Volkswagen with two colleagues when two men on board a motorcycle, wearing helmets with visors that hid their faces, attacked them. Lintuan, 51, was hit in his head and died while companions Louie Ceniza and Edgar Banzon were unhurt. Lintuan had been on the air at DXGO for about three months, leasing airtime under a practice known as "block-timing". The veteran journalist also wrote for Sunstar Daily. Lintuan, 51, was well known for his criticism of local politicians in Davao City in southern Mindanao. Days prior to his death, Lintuan was attacking the city government, led by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for its alleged anomalous People's Park, a local development project which he called the “Crocodiles’ Park.". The mayor denied the allegation linking him to the attack.Duterte pointed to retired Army General Jovito Palparan, an adviser of rival then Congressman Prospero Nograles, to have a hand in the killing.
Lintuan had survived an August 1987 attack inside DXRA radio in Davao. Three others died in the attack.
2009
Abas, Badrudin
Badrudin Abas was a peace worker and block-time radio commentator in Cotabato City.On January 21, 2009 while he was driving a red passenger multicab about 7 p.m., two unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen shot him in the head. He died immediately. The police will investigate, but have already offered the theory that he was mistaken for his brother who is alleged to be involved in a love triangle.
But the Committee to Protect Journalists voiced concerns that the killing of Abas may be just a continuation of the cycle of violence against journalists in the Philippines and called for a thorough investigation.
Like many of the journalists killed during the presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Abas worked for local radio and had a reputation for strong commentary on Muslim and military issues.