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| Southeast Asia |
| Politicians charged in deaths |
| 2010-06-24 |
| [Straits Times] PHILIPPINE police have filed murder charges against two local politicians and a police officer over the separate killings of two provincial radio reporters last week, but none of those charged have been detained. The Philippines was the deadliest country for journalists in 2009, accounting for 37 of 132 journalists and support staff around the world that were killed or died while working, the International News Safety Institute said. 'Murder charges had been filed against them based on the strength of testimonies from several witnesses,' national police spokesman Leonardo Espina Espina told reporters on Wednesday, saying politics could be among the motives for the killings. Village head Romeo Antoling and police officer Dennis Jess Lumikid have been charged with the June 14 murder of Desadario Camangyan, a radio commentator known for his anti-mining and anti-logging editorials. They have not yet been arrested. Camangyan was shot from behind while judging a singing contest in Manay town on southern Mindanao island. Pacifico Velasco, who was elected vice mayor Bacarra town in northern Ilocos Norte province last month, and his aide Leonardo Banaag have been charged with the June 16 murder of radio reporter Jovelito Agustin, but remain at large. |
| Posted by:Fred |