Attacks against journalists

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Two journalists were killed, four were arrested, and another was red-tagged by state forces in the past two weeks.

Soldiers of the 2nd IB gunned down writer Ronnie Villamor in Barangay Matanglad, Masbate on November 14. He was in the area to cover a case of land grabbing by businessman Randy Favis. He was stopped at a military checkpoint and was shot. The military, however, made it appear that he was killed in an encounter.

On November 10, writer and journalist Virgilio Maganes was gunned down in Barangay San Blas, Villasis, Pangasinan. He was a survivor of a killing attempt by suspected state agents in 2016.

On the same day, police arrested broadcasters Virgilio Avila Jr. and Mia Concordia in Camarines Norte after being charged with cyberlibel by Gov. Edgardo Tallado. They were released after posting bail amounting to to ₱400,000. The governor also charged journalist Deo Trinidad.

Cyberlibel cases were also used against broadcasters Jun Digamon who was arrested in Davao City on November 13 and Leonardo Hijara in Surigao del Sur during the same week.

Meanwhile, the regime maliciously linked Inquirer correspondent and National Union of Journalists in the Philippines director Nestor Burgos Jr. to the revolutionary movement on November 5. Burgos is currently based in Iloilo City.

The Philippines is considered the seventh worst country for journalists based on the 2020 Global Impunity Index published by the Committee to Protect Journalists on October 28.

Attacks against journalists