H.E. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
President of the Philippines
Office of the President
Makati City
Republic of the Philippines

Fax: (+ 632) 812 1140

Vienna, 31 May 2001

Your Excellency,

The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors and media executives, strongly condemns the killing of a radio journalist in the Philippines.

According to information before IPI, Candelario Cayona was shot dead by two gunmen in the southern Philippine city of Zamboanga on 30 May. Cayona, a radio announcer at DXLL radio station who last year angered police by airing interviews with members of the Muslim extremist group Abu Sayyaf, was on his way to his office on a motorcycle when two gunmen shot him in the head and body. Investigators said Cayona, whose reporting on alleged corruption had earned him many enemies, was killed by hired assassins.

Cayona is the third journalist to be killed in the Philippines this year.

On 3 January, Rolando Ureta, programme director for dyKR radio station, an affiliate of Radio Mindanao, was shot dead in Aklan province by unidentified assailants. He had just finished airing his nightly programme and was driving his motorcycle when the gunmen, who were also on motorcycles, opened fired. Local newspapers reported that he had received death threats because of his coverage of politic corruption and drug trafficking.

Mohammad Yusop, a commentator for DXID radio station, a member of the Islamic Radio Broadcasting Network, was shot and killed by two unidentified individuals on 24 February as he was returning home on his motorcycle in Pagadian City, Mindanao Island. Nobody claimed responsibility for the murder, police said.

IPI urges Your Excellency to ensure that there is a thorough investigation into Cayona’s murder and those responsible are brought to justice. We further urge that you disclose any findings with regard to his slaying, as well as those of Ureta and Yusop, and that the authorities take all possible steps to stop the killing of journalists in the Philippines.

We thank you for your attention and look forward to receiving your response.

Yours sincerely,

Johann P. Fritz
Director