PTFoMS, NUJP condemn murder of 2 Mindanao journalists

PTFoMS’ Statement on Leo Diaz/Rudy Dahunan Alicaway Killingand
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) deeply mourns and condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the killings of radio reporter and Sapol News Bulletin columnist Leodoro Leo Diaz and Rudy Dahunan Alicaway, anchorman of 106.9 DXPB Radyo ng Bayan. Diaz was killed in Barangay Kalanawi, President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat in Region XII or SoCCSKSarGen. Region XII accounts for one of the most number of media killings in the country. Diaz’s murder is number 14 on the list.
In a related but separate development, Alicaway was also shot and killed in Sitio Lopez, Barangay Culo, Molave, Zamboanga del Sur yesterday. Alicaway was also a Barangay Councilman in Miligan, of the same town in the province. Alicaway’s death, just like Diaz’s, is also number 14 on the list of Region IX, or the Zamboanga Peninsula.
PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar, Co-Chair of the Task Force, gave PTFoMS Executive Director USec. Joel Sy Egco specific instructions to immediately act on these cases. USec. Sy Egco posthaste called Police Superintendent Eder Collantes of the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) Task Force Usig to map out strategies on how to speed up the investigation of the two cases.
If it will be proven that the attacks were work-related this would be the 2nd and 3rd media worker killings that will fall under the mandate of the PTFoMS in relation to Administrative Order No. 1 (AO1) of Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte in protecting the life, liberty and security of Media Workers and their families.

Under the Guidelines of AO1, there is a one-strike policy against concerned officials under whose jurisdiction a media killing occurred, to witand
Article 1, Definition of Terms, no. 24 or One-Strike Policy-- the administrative relief or other punitive actions against Local PTFoMS Council members who shall fail to meet the full implementation of the StratPlan by reason of misfeasance, malfeasance, nonfeasance, and other violations is punishable under existing rules.
This Local PTFoMS Council is a body headed by the concerned Provincial/City Prosecutor as the Chairperson and Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial/District/City Director as Co-Chairperson in each province/city composed of members from various government and media groups or agencies. Their task is to formulate Strategic Plans (StratPlan) on how to fulfill the mandate of AO1 in their respective area of responsibility.
The PTFoMS will keep a close watch and strictly monitor the progress of the investigations and even provide legal assistance, if necessary.
The Task Force is fully committed to discharge its function in keeping media workers free from any and all forms of threats and violence that may be carried out against them. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) condemns the murder of two journalists in as many days in Zamboanga del Sur and Sultan Kudarat provinces.
The NUJP calls for an immediate investigation on the separate killings of Rudy Alicaway and Leo Diaz and demand the identification, arrest and prosecution of those involved.
Two motorcycle-riding gunned down Alicaway while he was on his way home on Sunday, August 6, in Molave town in Zamboanga del Sur province. The gunmen finished off Alicaway as he tried to crawl away after being shot, according to a report of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, citing a police report.
Alicaway, 46, was a radio anchor of Tigmo-Tigmo program at DXPB 106.9 (Radyo ng Bayan Molave). He was reportedly also a village councilman of Miligan in Molave.
On Monday, August 7, a motorcycle-riding gunman shot Leodoro Diaz after leaving his house in President Quirino town in Sultan Kudarat province. He died from multiple gunshot wounds.
Diaz was a columnist of Sapol Newspaper and a reporter of Radio Mindanao Network.
Their deaths, if work-related, bring to a total of 177 the number of Filipino media workers killed since 1986.
The killings happened in the two provinces of Mindanao even as the whole region is under Martial Law.
This again highlights the culture of impunity in the attacks against and killings of Filipino journalists that have remained unabated despite an international outcry.