The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) has urged authorities to thoroughly investigate the killing of radio broadcaster Noel Bellen Samar in Albay, marking the eighth journalist killed during the Marcos Jr. administration.
A blocktime commentator for dwIZ and manager of online media platform Kadunong ITV, Samar, 54, was shot by two suspects on separate motorcycles at around 2 p.m. on Oct. 21 while riding his motorcycle along Maharlika Highway in Guinobatan town.
‘While the motive remains unclear and the investigation is ongoing, NUJP urges authorities to carry out a thorough investigation into the Samar case and whether it is linked to his journalistic work,’ the NUJP said in a statement.
Acting Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr., said Wednesday that investigators have gathered leads after launching a hot pursuit of the suspects.
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security has also formed a special team to probe the killing.
The NUJP said the latest media killing ‘adds to the chilling effect on media practitioners, campus journalists, and communication students.’
‘No journalist should face death simply for performing their duty in reporting the truth. Threats and attacks will not persist if the Marcos Jr. administration is serious about ending impunity,’ it added.
Based on its monitoring, two of the eight media killings under the current administration have been linked to the victims’ work, while the rest remain under investigation.