MANILA, Philippines – The solution rate is higher than the unsolved cases of journalists’ murders, although some witnesses who fear for their lives are reluctant to cooperate, a special investigative task force said.
Task Force Usig issued the statement in reaction to the report of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) that killers of slain journalists remain unpunished because witnesses are intimidated.
TF Usig chief Director Raul Bacalzo told The STAR that of the 36 work-related incidents of journalists’ murders, 30 cases or 83 percent have already been filed in court and six or 17 percent remain under investigation.
Bacalzo noted that there were 19 suspects arrested, 11 surrendered, five convicted and three killed. Police are now hunting at least 20 suspects who remain at large.
“As in all cases, there are witnesses who would not cooperate. But take note, the solution rate is higher than the pending unsolved cases,” Bacalzo said.
TF Usig also reported three work-related cases of journalists’ killings from January to June 2009 where suspects were identified and apprehended.
These were the murders of Ernesto Rollin of Radyo Natin; Crispin Perez, former vice-governor of Mindoro and commentator of dwDO; and Antonio Castillo of tabloid Bigwas in Masbate.
Rollin was killed last Feb. 23 in Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental while Perez was murdered last June 9 in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro and Castillo was slain last June 12 in Uson, Masbate.
Chief Inspector Henry Libay of TF Usig said police arrested Rollin’s alleged attacker, Ruel Jumalon, last May 24, while the suspect in the killing of Perez, PO2 Darwin Quimoyog, remains in the custody of Calapan City Police in Oriental Mindoro.
Libay said charges of murder have been filed against the assassins of Castillo who were identified only as a certain Joyjoy and several John Does.
The CPJ said witnesses to the gruesome murders of Filipino journalists live in fear and the killers of slain journalists remain unpunished because witnesses are intimidated.
CPJ’s senior Southeast Asia representative Shawn Crispin said the fear of reprisal causes many potential witnesses to look the other way in violence-prone areas of the country, allowing a culture of impunity to thrive.
CPJ is an independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide. –Cecille Suerte Felipe (The Philippine Star)
July 2025
Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
July
3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 July – International Plastic Bag Free Day
5 July – World Youth Skills Day
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day
17 July – World Day for International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons
Monthly Observances:
Schools Safety Month
Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
