Joint NUJP and CCJD statement on Dr. Gerry Ortega’s killing

Joint Statement of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)

and Center for Community Journalism and Development (CCJD)

Today, we commit Dr. Gerry Ortega to the earth he loved and for which he offered his life.

As we do so, we vow that the ideals of freedom of expression and ideas, a free press, and the truth, which he embodied in life, do not die with him but will flourish in the service of the people’s right to know.

Neither shall we rest until we find justice for Doc Gerry’s death and for the 141 other colleagues murdered before him since 1986. We demand that government order all investigating agencies to get their acts together and conduct a unified, coordinated and transparent investigation, leaving no stone unturned until all those responsible, especially the masterminds, are caught and punished.

We demand that government secure Doc Gerry’s family and all witnesses, and provide them with all the assistance they deserve.

Lastly, we demand, in light of persistent reports of a possible escalation of violence against our colleagues in Palawan, that government guarantee their safety and nip in the bud any and all threats. If any more blood is spilled, we will hold government accountable.

January 29, 2011

Reference:

Rowena Paraan, NUJP secretary-general

Red Batario, CCJD executive director

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NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES
4/L FSS Bldg. # 89 Sct. Castor corner
Sct. Tuason Street (near T. Morato Ave),
Bgry. Laging Handa,
Quezon City, Philippines
Tel.: (+632) 3767330
Email: nujphil@gmail.com
Web: www.nujp.org (under construction)
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Are you a journalist under threat?
Report it to NUJP’s Threat Hotlines:
*(+632) 3767330
* Email: nujphil@gmail.com
* Twitter:http://twitter.com/nujp
*********************************************************************************************************************************
“There can be no press freedom if journalists
exist in conditions of corruption, poverty or fear”
– IFJ
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Iloilo publisher-editor wounded in attack

NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES

Alert
January 28, 2011

Lemuel Fernandez, publisher-editor of the Iloilo-based Western Visayas
Daily Guardian, suffered a head injury after an unknown assailant hit him on
the head with a hard object around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Francis Allan Angelo, the newspaper’s managing editor, said he and
Fernandez had just finished editing Thursday’s issue of the newspaper and
were about to board their vehicles when the assailant struck Fernandez in
front of their office in Molo District in Iloilo City.

Angelo said he rushed to Fernandez after he heard him cry out for help and
saw him holding the back of his neck, already bloodied. He then brought his
superior to the Iloilo St. Paul’s Hospital for treatment.

Fernandez told Angelo that his assailant who immediately fled was in short
pants and wearing a white shirt.

Aside from being the publisher-editor, Fernandez also hosts the newspaper’s
weekly radio program “The Guardia On Air.”

NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES – ILOILO (NUJP Iloilo)

January 27, 2010

STATEMENT ON THE ATTACK AGAINST PUBLISHER-EDITOR LEMUEL FERNANDEZ

The NUJP -Iloilo Chapter strongly condemns the attack against Mr. Lemuel Fernandez, publisher-editor of the Western Visayas The Daily Guardian in Iloilo City on the evening of January 26.

The NUJP  likewise calls on concerned authorities, especially the Philippine National Police (PNP),  to conduct a thorough investigation of the incident even as it also encourages members of the tri-media to be always on guard and put  personal safety above all other priorities.

The failure on the part of concerned authorities to take appropriate action on the matter may cause a chilling effect to other media colleagues who are regarded as defenders of press freedom.

Let us not allow the perception that society today is getting harsh and lawlessness is creeping in our midst.

The organization also extends sympathy to Mr. Fernandez who sustained a deep cut at the back of his head after he was assaulted by a still an unidentified suspect.

Mr. Fernandez was about to board his vehicle parked in front of their office along M.H. Del Pilar Street in Molo district when the assailant struck him on the head.

Bert Ladera

Chairman

NUJP-Iloilo

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********************************************************************************************************************************
NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES
4/L FSS Bldg. # 89 Sct. Castor corner
Sct. Tuason Street (near T. Morato Ave),
Bgry. Laging Handa,
Quezon City, Philippines
Tel.: (+632) 3767330
Email: nujphil@gmail.com
Web: www.nujp.org (under construction)
*********************************************************************************************************************************
Are you a journalist under threat?
Report it to NUJP’s Threat Hotlines:
*(+632) 3767330
* Email: nujphil@gmail.com
* Twitter:http://twitter.com/nujp
*********************************************************************************************************************************
“There can be no press freedom if journalists
exist in conditions of corruption, poverty or fear”
– IFJ
*********************************************************************************************************************************

RMN Palawan commentator shot dead

142nd since 1986

RMN Palawan commentator shot dead

Dr. Gerardo Ortega, commentator of RMN Palawan and staunch critic of the current governor and of mining operations in the island province, was shot on the head and died on the spot. The incident happened inside a garments’ shop in Puerto Princesa City at past 11 am today.

Ortega was the anchor of the daily primetime program “Ramatak” which aired over dwAR, RMN’s local affiliate.

The gunman fled on foot after shooting Ortega but was reportedly arrested by the police and is now undergoing interrogation.

 

Ortega is the 142nd journalist killed since 1986 when democracy was restored in the Philippine after Ferdinand Marcos was toppled.

If the killing is proven to be work-related, he would be the second to be murdered under President Noynoy Aquino. The first was radio reporter Miguel Belen of Iriga, Camarines Sur.

 

 

NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES (NUJP)

ALERT

January 24, 2011

Reference

Rowena Paraan, NUJP Secretary General and Media Safety Office Coordinator

–
********************************************************************************************************************************
NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS OF THE PHILIPPINES
4/L FSS Bldg. # 89 Sct. Castor corner
Sct. Tuason Street (near T. Morato Ave),
Bgry. Laging Handa,
Quezon City, Philippines
Tel.: (+632) 3767330
Email: nujphil@gmail.com
Web: www.nujp.org (under construction)
*********************************************************************************************************************************
Are you a journalist under threat?
Report it to NUJP’s Threat Hotlines:
*(+632) 3767330
* Email: nujphil@gmail.com
* Twitter:http://twitter.com/nujp
*********************************************************************************************************************************
“There can be no press freedom if journalists
exist in conditions of corruption, poverty or fear”
– IFJ
*********************************************************************************************************************************

 

Kuya Daniel Razon, Simbolo ng Tunay na Serbisyo Publiko (Ikalawang Bagting)

Rey Tamayo, Jr.

Tulong muna, Bago Balita – ito ang bago at pangunahing adbokasiya ni Kuya Daniel Razon na isa lamang sa kaniyang maraming proyekto sa larangan ng industriya ng pagbabalita sa bansa.

Matatandaang kamakailan lamang ay opisyal na inilunsad sa publiko ang nasabing proyekto kung saan kasabay ng pagsalubong ng pagpapalit ng taon ay pinatunayan ng buong puwersa ng UNTV 37 sa pakikipagtulungan na rin ng iba’t ibang organisasyon at ahensya ng pamahalaaan ay matagumpay na naisakatuparan ang nasabing proyekto. Na tulungan muna ang mga naging biktima ng insidente bago kumuha ng ibang detalye upang ibalita.

Ang natatanging sistemakitong proyektong ito ng UNTV ang nagbukas ng bagong mukha sa mundo ng pamamahayag. Bagay na isinasaisantabi ang ideyang indibidwalismo sa pagbabalita. Hindi na baleng hindi makakuha ng esklusibong report, matulungan lamang ang mga biktima nito.

Ang tradisyunal at nakakahong ideyalismo sa larangan ng pamamahayag ay tahasang binasag at winakasan ng UNTV sa pangunguna ni Kuya Daniel.

Ang panibagong pagsasalarawan ng paghahatid ng makabuluhang balita ay hindi lamang nililimitahan sa pagkuha ng detalye, anggulo, impormasyon at kritisismo ng isang pangunahing pangyayari. Saklaw nito ang ekstensyon ng pagkakawanggawa at pagtulong sa kapwa tao hindi lamang sa mga kapus-palad  kundi maging sa ating mga kababayang naipit sa gitna ng sakuna, aksidente sa lansangan at mga biktima ng iba’t ibang krimen.

Tunay na hindi matatawaran ang ginagawa ng pamunuan ng UNTV katuwang ang grupong Ang Dating Daan sa pangunguna ni Bro. Eli Soriano. Magugunitang ang grupong Ang Dating Daan ang siyang pangunahing religious organization sa Pilipinas na nagsasagawa ng libreng serbisyo publiko hindi lamang sa mga miyembro nito kundi maging sa ating mga kababayan na nangangailangan ng tulong.

Ilan lamang sa mga proyektong inilunsad na magkatuwang sina Bro. Eli at Kuya Daniel ay ang pagtatayo ng mga transient home sa Quezon City at Pampanga, ang nationwide na libreng sakay sa jeep, bus at lantsa; libreng edukasyon mula elementarya hanggang kolehiyo sa La Verdad Christian School and College na may dalawa ng sangay; sa Caloocan City at Apalit, Pampanga. Ang araw-araw na libreng medical mission sa buong bansa, mga libreng konsultasyon sa mga abogado na may suliraning legal at ang pinakahuli ay nang ilunsad ng Department of Education at katulong muli ang UNTV sa kauna-unahang mobile school sa bansa na tinawag na Dunong Gulong kung saan makikinabang partikular na ang mga out-of-school youth sa bansa. Ang dalawang mobile school ay iikot sa iba’t ibang mga lalawigan sa bansa upang maihatid ang libreng edukasyon na iniaalok ng DepEd.

Ang aksyon na ito ni Kuya Daniel ay isang kongkretong manipestasyon na ang pagtulong sa kapwa tao ay marapat lamang na samantalahin hangga’t mayroong pagkakataon na makatulong sa nangangailangan.

Dedikasyon at sinsero sa paggawa ng mabuti ang ilan sa mga panguhaning elemento ng tunay na pagkakawanggawa. At ang mga elementong ito ay taglay ni Kuya Daniel.

Hindi lamang sa pangangalap ng balita nagtatapos ang tungkulin ng mga mamamahayag sa publiko kundi hanggang sa pakikisangkot mismo ng bawat indibidwal.

Pinatunayan na ng mahabang panahon at karanasan na si Kuya Daniel Razon ang simbolo ng tunay na serbisyo publiko sa bansa.

Photo by: Kenji Hasegawa

“Balita”

Balita

by Asin

 

Chorus:

Lapit mga kaibigan at makinig kayo
ako’y may dala dalang balita galing sa bayan ko
nais kong ipamahagi ang mga kwento at
ang mga pangyayaring nagaganap sa lupang ipinangako

I
Ang lupang pinanggalingan ko’y may bahid ng dugo
may mga lorong di makalipad nasa hawlang ginto
may mga puno walang dahon
mga pusong di makakibo
sa mga pangyayaring nagaganap sa lupang ipinangako

II
Mula ng makita ko ang lupang ito
nakita ko rin ang munting apoy sa puso ng tao
ginatungan ng mga kabulukan hanggang sa lumago,
ngayon ang puso’y may takot sa lupang ipinangako
(Repeat chorus)

III
Dati rati ang mga bukid ay kulay ginto
dati rati’y ang mga ibon sinlaya ng tao
dati rati ay katahimikan, ang musikang nagpapatulog

sa mga batang walang muwang sa mundo

IV
Ngayon ang lupang ipinangako ay nagsusumamo
patakan n’yo ng luha ang apoy sa kanyang puso
dinggin n’yo ang mga sigaw ng mga puso
ng taong una n’yong dadamhing kabilang sa inyo

V
Duul mga kaigsuunan nugpaminaw kamo
duna koy dala nga mga balita gikan sa banwa ko
gusto ko nga i pahibalo ang mga istorya

nga nagagahitabu sa banwagisa na to