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Ka Ernie was shot around 5:30am February 23, 2009 near a gas station in barangay Talic, Oroquieta City. He was on his way to work in radio DxSY-AM in Ozamiz City. He was first pumped with three bullets in different parts of his body, and seeing that he still managed to survive, his attackers finished him off with a fourth and fatal gunshot in the head.
Like other attacks on journalists, the slaying of Ka Ernie has cast more shadow of gloom over press freedom and adds to the continuing mockery of Philippine democracy.
Granting that the attackers and/or their mastermind have scores to settle with Ka Ernie, the four gunshots that ended his life clearly are not the appropriate way for this.
In light of the incident, we urge local authorities to conduct a no-nonsense investigation on Ka Ernie's slay and be steadfast in enforcing the law no matter who the suspects of the crime are.
We call on our colleagues in local news media practice to maintain, if not improve further, our unity in order to surmount this seemingly incessant threat that undermines a no-nonsense dispatch of our duties as bearers of truthful information that the public ought to know of.
We also call on media watchdog groups to help us look over the performance of our law enforcement agencies in solving this case.
Let us not be cowed by this act of cowardice lurking under the destructive power of the gun.
References:
Neptalie BatolenioMobile number 0928-7461772
Ryan D. RosauroMobile number 0927-5446066