PAPI condemns radioman's slay

OnThe Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI) yesterday condemned the killing of hard-hitting radio broadcaster Fernando E. Batul and called on police authorities to “stop the wanton killing of journalists.”

According to PAPI president Juan P. Dayang, the killing of media practitioners continue unabated since the return of democracy and lifting of Martial Law in 1986. “At least 73 media practitioners have been felled by assassins since 1986,” he noted, adding that “last year, 10 journalists were killed, prompting New York-based Reporters With No Borders to brand the country as the second most dangerous country in the world to practice journalism.” Dayang appealed to police authorities to undertake every measure necessary to stop the spate of killings that has made the profession one of the most dangerous.

The PAPI official said that Batul is a very active media person and has participated regularly in many of the PAPI's National Press Congresses. “Unless the government takes deliberate steps to catch the killers of journalists and put in place a security mechanism for media practitioners, Batul will not be the last,” Dayang warned.

l