Crisis: National

Radio broadcaster-activist killed
A broadcaster was gunned down by an unidentified assassin on Nov. 27 in Cagayan.

According to a report of the World Association of Commu-nity Radio Broadcasters, Anthony Licyayo, 38, who was also a farmer, was on his way to attend to his rice field in Sitio Torkia, Barangay Cabaraoan, when an unknown assailant shot him in the head.  Licyayo’s one-year-old son who was with him was unharmed.

Licyayo was chairperson of the local peasant alliance Gunglo Dagiti Mannalon iti Cagayan Valley (Kagimungan), which supports the community radio, Radyo Cagayano.

Radyo Cagayano, a community radio in the town of Baggao in Cagayan, was established by the political group Bayan Muna. On July 2, the radio station was burned down by eight armed men wearing ski masks and carrying gasoline. The radio station blamed members of the local military for the attack. The military, however, denied the charge.

Radyo Cagayano, an advocate of peasant rights, had been critical of alleged corruption by the military.

A study conducted by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) revealed that a total of 61 media practitioners have been killed in the line of duty since 1986. Of this number, 31 occurred during the Arroyo administration. CMFR is still determining if Licyayo’s death is connected with his work as a community radio broadcaster.

2 radio broadcasters shot in Iloilo
TWO BROADCASTERS were injured when two unidentified men fired at them on Dec. 1 in Estancia, Iloilo.

Arnie Pullan and Butch Aclaro, both of the MBC-Radyo Natin, were on their way home after their program, when two men riding a motorcycle shot at them. Contrary to earlier reports, Pullan and Aclaro, who were also on a motorcycle, suffered no critical wounds.

According to Senior Inspector Alex Velez of the Philippine National Police, Pullan managed to duck in time. The bullet merely grazed Pullan’s left eyebrow while Aclaro suffered powder burns on his neck.

Velez said the motive behind the attack is still unknown.

The two broadcasters received first aid from a nearby hospital and were immediately released afterwards.

Aclaro and Pullan, who are also employees of the local municipal government, host “The Mayor’s Hour,” a radio block-time program of Estancia Mayor Rene Cordero. The show, which started airing in October, ceased airing last Dec. 2, the day after the shooting incident.

It was not the first time that Pullan became the target of an attack. On June 7 last year, two men shot at him using homemade shotguns. Charges of frustrated murder were filed against the suspects and the case is still pending in court. Velez said that attack stemmed from Pullan’s work as market inspector.

Eddie Lacsi, chair of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) in Iloilo, said the MBC-Radyo Natin is not accredited with the KBP.  The KBP, which is a self-regulatory body for the broadcast industry, enforces standards in programming, advertising, and trade practice through its Radio and Television Codes.

Palawan reporter complains of threats
A radio reporter has complained of threats by a police officer after the latter became the subject of reports of wrongdoing.

Lourdes Escaros Paet, reporter for the radio station dyPR and the weekly community newspaper Bandillo ng Palawan, said police officer Antonio Magbanua aired his threats over radio station dyER on Nov. 10, 11, and 13, 2006.

In her letter to Magbanua’s superior, director general Jesus Versoza of the Philippine National Police, Paet said Magbanua blamed her for his relief from the service.

Since early this year, Magbanua had been reported as being allegedly involved in human trafficking, specifically the abduction of minors for labor. He was also reported to be engaging in corruption and abuse of power.

Magbanua’s threats were reportedly aired over dyER, a radio station owned by Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn.

Paet said that when Magbanua received his relief order, he went to dyER and cast aspersions on her by questioning her “credibility as a professional media practitioner.”

Magbanua’s whereabouts are still unknown but Paet believes he is still in Puerto Princesa.

To protect herself, the radio journalist told the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, “As much as possible, I stay at the office and when I go out I see to it that I have a companion.”

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