On 54th month since Ampatuan, Digos broadcaster becomes 28th media man murdered under PNoy’s term

MANILA, Philippines — (UPDATE – 1:00 p.m.) A radio blocktimer was murdered by motorcycle-riding killers in Davao City, capital of Davao del Sur, Friday morning, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines reported.

A count of media killings in the country maintained by the NUJP shows Samuel Oliverio, 57, is the 164th media practitioner to be murdered in the country since 1986 and the 28th under President Benigno Aquino III.

His death comes the same day the NUJP commemorates the 54th month since the November 23, 2009 Ampatuan massacre, which claimed the lives of 58 persons, 32 of them media practitioners.

It also followed last week’s hearing by a Senate panel chaired by Sen. Grace Poe on the status of media killings in the country, to which police and industry representatives were invited to provide updates on the arrest and prosecution of culprits

Superintendent Querubin Manalang Jr., the city police chief, said the victime and his wife were riding home when the killers struck. He said Oliverio was shot in the head.

The killers did not bother to mask their faces, the NUJP said.

Oliverio used to anchor blocktime programs on Radio Ukay and Supreme Radio but had gone on leave after suffering a stroke in February.

His colleagues in Digos said Oliverio used to deliver scathing commentaries on local politics and against the proliferation of illegal gambling and illegal drugs in the city.

Only a handful of journalists’ killers have been convicted but none of the masterminds has ever been punished.

The NUJP and other media organizations have blamed government apathy and inaction for the impunity with which media killings continue to be committed.

During the recent visit of US President Barack Obama, Aquino came under fire when, asked about what his administration was doing to address journalists’ murders, he fumbled on the number of media victims in the Ampatuan massacre. –Jaime Sinapit, InterAksyon.com