Impunity in the Philippines
By Joel Simon and Sheila Coronel

At a recent conference on press freedom and impunity held in Manila, attorney Nena Santos declared, "My heart bleeds for justice for a friend and children of all the victims."

That friend was Marlene Garcia-Esperat, a crusading investigative reporter from Mindanao whose cold-blooded murder in March 2005 made her a press freedom martyr in the Philippines and around the world. Attorney Santos achieved a breakthrough in the Philippines when she helped convict the gunmen who carried out the killing. She now has her sights set on the masterminds.

Read more here.

Celebrating Agricultural Journalism
The Philip Morris Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism awards calls for the best in agriculture journalism

The Philippine's premiere agriculture journalism awards is once again seeking out the country's best agriculture-themed stories. The second annual Philip Morris' Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism awards is open to the very best news and feature stories from all over the country. Journalists are invited to submit their works by the May 6, 2008 deadline.

Read more here.

2008 Jaime V. Ongpin Journalism Award focuses on corruption, human rights and environment

The 2008 Jaime V. Ongpin Awards for Excellence in Journalism (JVOAEJ) will focus on corruption/governance, human rights and environmental issues.

This was among the changes announced in the country's most prestigious journalism awards by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), which administers the JVOAEJ.

Ongpin Awards Nominations Extended to April 25, 2008

Nominations for the 2008 Jaime V. Ongpin Awards for Excellence in Journalism (JVOAEJ) for works published in print in 2007 will be accepted until Friday, April 25, the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) announced yesterday. CMFR serves as the secretariat of the 19-year-old Awards.

CMFR conducts an independent scan of Manila-based publications and the nomination process is not a requirement for consideration.

Read more here.

CMFR Philippines alert:
Provincial publisher killed

CMFR/Philippines—An individual onboard a motorcycle gunned down a newspaper publisher at around 10:15 pm (local time) on 7 April 2008 night in Pasig City in the Philippines. Pasig is one of the cities that make up the National Capital Region, where the country's capital, Manila, is located.

Benefredo Acabal, 34, the publisher and a columnist of the Cavite-based paper Pilipino Newsmen, was shot by a gunman onboard a motorcycle along Amang Rodriguez Avenue corner Greenpark Village, Manggahan, Pasig City. Cavite is a province south of Manila.

CMFR Philippines Alert:
Journalist gets death threat over mining story

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – A Palawan-based journalist was threatened with death on 3 April 2008 after he wrote that a mining company was blocking plans to declare a forest in Brooke's Point, Palawan as a protected area. Palawan is an island southwest of Manila.

Redempto Anda, a Philippine Daily Inquirer correspondent and an editor for the local newspaper Palawan Star, received the threat through his mobile phone. The text message said that the person after him was protecting the interest of a certain "Kapitan" (Captain).

Read more here.

CMFR Philippines:
Judge grants 60-day temporary restraining order for trial of “masterminds” in journalist’s killing

CMFR/Philippines—The Cebu City Court of Appeals issued a 60-day temporary restraining order (TRO) on 25 March 2008 in the trial of the suspected masterminds in the killing of a journalist. Cebu is a province approximately 562 km south of Manila.

A three-page resolution penned by Associate Justice Francisco Acosta and co-signed by Associate Justices Pampio Abarintos and Amy Lazario-Javier granted the 4 February 2008 petition filed by Osmeña Montañer and Estrella Sabay, accused of ordering the 24 March 2005 killing of journalist Marlene Esperat, asking for

Read more here.