H. E. Fidel Ramos
President
Malacańang Palace
Manila
The Philippines

Vienna, 18 December 1996

The International Press Institute (IPI) strongly condemns the killing of an editor of one of the Philippines’ largest radio stations.

Roberto Berbon, editor of the DZMM radio station, was shot in the head and body by three gunmen on Sunday, 15 December, in an attack outside his home south of Manila. Mr. Berbon’s wife was wounded in the left leg.

IPI is informed that no motive has been established for the killing, but that a provincial police official said two groups of suspects were under surveillance.

Mr. Berbon was the second senior journalist to be shot and killed in the Philippines this year. The editor of the weekly Press Freedom, Ferdinand Reyes, was killed by an unidentified gunman in his office in the southern city of Dipolog on 12 February. His murder has yet to be solved.

IPI, the global network of editors and media executives from newspapers, magazines, broadcasting organisations and news agencies in 90 countries, urges Your Excellency to ensure that a thorough investigation of the killing of Mr. Berbon is made and that those responsible for this crime are brought to justice. We further urge that your disclose any findings with regard to both his murder and that of Mr. Reyes.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Johann P. Fritz
Director