Mind the facts, please

Jeers to gmanews.tv for carrying an item by an international press organization without verifying its facts.

On Oct. 26, gmanews.tv published a report about the statement of the Belgium-based International Federation of Journalists condemning the Oct. 25 slay attempt on two Digos-based block time radio broadcasters.

“The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) voiced shock over the shooting of Marlan Malnegro and Ruben Oliverio, who had just finished their morning program when they were shot,” gmanews.tv reported.

Malnegro and Oliverio, block timers of dxDS Radyo Ukay, have both finished their programs and were on their way home onboard their motorcycles when an assassin riding in tandem with another individual on a motorcycle fired at them.

The gmanews.tv report carried the statement of IFJ-Asia Pacific Director Jacqueline Park saying that the “fresh attack reflects the worsening situation for journalists in the Philippines” It, however, did not bother to double check the accuracy of the facts carried by the IFJ statement, as some of these proved to be inaccurate.

“She (Park) also noted three journalists have been killed so far this year in the Philippines, the latest of whom was newspaper and radio reporter Arnel Manalo,” gmanews.tv reported.

“Manalo was shot dead in Batangas last July 31,” gmanews.tv added.

Manalo, however, was killed on Aug. 5, 2004.

“Earlier this year, controversial political radio commentator Rogelio Mariano was killed after completing a broadcast over Radyo Natin,” gmanews.tv also quoted the IFJ report.

However, there is no broadcaster who goes by the name of Rogelio Mariano, and who was killed “earlier this year.”

There is only a Roger Mariano, who was killed on July 31, 2004.

For a complete list of the names, dates, and organizations of Filipino journalists/media practitioners who were killed in the line of duty since 1986, please visit the database of the Center for Media Freedom Responsibility.

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