Police Must Establish Motive for Journalist Murder

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in calling for an immediate investigation into the murder of journalist Johnson Pascual, in Alicia, in Isabela province in the northern Philippines.

Pascual, editor-in-chief of Prime News and a columnist with several other newspapers in Isabela, was shot while driving to Cauayan City by two unidentified men on a motorcycle on October 7. He was shot in the head and torso, and died after losing control of his vehicle and crashing into a ravine.

Police are yet to identify any suspects or establish a motive for the murder. In addition to his work as a journalist, Pascual worked as a bank manager with the First Isabela Cooperative (FICO) Bank based in Maddela town, Quirino province. Another Isabela-based bank manager, Rufo Uy, was murdered in similar circumstances on September 18, according to Inquirer.net.

“While the motive for Pascual’s murder is not yet clear, it is troubling to hear of the death of another journalist in the Philippines,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

“The IFJ implores authorities to act quickly to apprehend those responsible for his murder, and establish any connection to his work as a journalist.”

If Pascual’s murder is related to his work, he will be the 147th journalist to be killed in the line of duty since 1986, and the sixth under the present administration of President Benigno Aquino III. He was not known to be at odds with any local politician in the province and his columns rarely tackled critical issues against specific individuals or groups, according to journalists in the area.

The IFJ extends its sympathy to Pascual’s family and colleagues.

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries

Find the IFJ on Twitter: @ifjasiapacific

Find the IFJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/IFJAsiaPacific

ENDS

© Scoop Media