Suspect in Philippines Broadcaster Slaying Arrested

August 8, 2012

Suspect in Philippines Broadcaster Slaying Arrested in Philippines

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in welcoming the arrest of Niel Guimeroy, a suspect in the 2011 murder of broadcaster Niel “Lito” Jimena in Negros Occidental province in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines.

According to reports, police arrested Niel Guimeroy at around 6 a.m. in Isabela town, Bacolod City, southern Philippines. Guimeroy and Joel Calungsod - a former militiaman who remains at large - have reportedly been charged with murder.

Jimena was shot five times by unknown assailants on August 23, 2011. At the time of his murder, Neil Jimena was co-host of the Radio Mindanao Network-Iloilo dyRI, program Husgador.

Police believed Jimena’s killing was related to his work as a broadcaster, as a former informant of the Drug Enforcement Agency and the police intelligence unit in Iloilo.

The IFJ Asia Pacific welcomes the news, but calls for the Philippine authorities to ensure a transparent and timely investigation as a demonstrated commitment to justice at a time when the trials of murdered journalists are marred by a series of seemingly unnecessary delays.

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

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