NUJP dares police to quickly solve Roxas' killing
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) deplored the killing of broadcaster Martin Roxas, coming after the attack on Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) anchorman Dennis Cuesta in a crowded mall in General Santos City last August 4. Cuesta remains in critical condition.
Roxas also anchorman of RMN's radio station in Roxas City DYVR is the auditor of the Capiz chapter of the NUJP. He is the first journalist to be murdered in Capiz, said John Heredia, NUJP-Capiz chairperson and The News Today correspondent, in a telephone interview.
"We are shocked and enraged at this cowardly attack against our colleague and friend," said Heredia.
"The killing of Martin Roxas just three days after the wounding of Dennis Cuesta in General Santos City highlights the continued threats against journalists and the problem of impunity that has allowed the killers of journalists to go scot free," NUJP Secretary General Rowena Carranza-Paraan said in an interview.
"We condemn this latest attack against the media and we demand that the police and other law-enforcement agencies solve this crime by arresting the suspects and masterminds and putting them behind bars," she said.
Roxas is the fourth journalist to be murdered this year and the 57th since President Macapagal-Arroyo came to power in 2001, according to records of the NUJP.
"How can we claim that there is press freedom in this country when journalists continue to be killed in broad daylight just minutes after they left their station?" said Paraan.
Meanwhile, Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 regional director Chief Superintendent Isagani Cuevas has created a task force headed by Senior Supt. Josephus Angan, Provincial Director of the Capiz Police Provincial Office (CPPO), to investigate the killing of Roxas.
"He was an anchorman who tackled various issues and we will be looking into this angle," he said.
Police have arrested two suspects who were intercepted at a checkpoint and were still being investigated, said Cuevas.
Heredia said Martin had told his colleagues and co-employees that he was beaten up by a group of young men last week. He said they are still determining if this was related to Roxas's shooting.
Roxas, who hosted the station's noontime program "Targetanay sa Udto," had just left their station in Barangay Punta Tabuc after finishing his program around 1 p.m. and was riding a motorcycle when he was pursued by the two gunmen.