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UPDATE - PHILIPPINES
18 June 2007
Alleged murderer of journalists killed; president vows to end media
killings, update libel arrest procedure
SOURCE: Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), Manila
**Updates IFEX alerts of 21 and 20 June 2006**
(CMFR/IFEX) - The alleged gunman behind the 19 June 2006 killing of
journalist/activist couple Maricel Alave Vigo and George Vigo in Kidapawan,
Cotabato, has himself been killed, the online publication "
http://www.mindanews.com " reported. Kidapawan is located in Central
Mindanao, a southern island of the Philippines.
George Vigo was a contributor of the Union of Catholic Asian News (UCAN)
and hosted a youth-oriented program over dxND radio station, while Maricel
Vigo hosted a program called "Congress Affairs" over dxND. She was also
executive director of the non-government organization Peoples' Kauyahan
Foundation, Inc. (PKFI), which dealt with peace-building projects.
"Mindanews" quoted a relative of Jhonever "Jec-jec" Madangguit, the alleged
gunman in the Vigo killing, as saying that he died in a vehicular accident
on 3 June 2007 in Agusan del Sur, a province in Mindanao.
Agusam police, however, said that Madangguit appears to have been shot.
"There were no traces . . . No wounds that would prove that he died in an
accident. Instead, some marks on his body suggest that he had been shot,"
Makilala police chief Ramil Hojilla said.
Madangguit's relatives have transported his body to Makilala, a
municipality in Cotabato. "Mindanews" reported that a police department
staff person, who spoke anonymously, said that Madangguit was reportedly
with two hired killers on a gun-for-hire mission. The would-be victim,
however, got wind of Madangguit's intent and killed him instead.
Madangguit was widely believed to be a "fall guy" in the Vigo shooting,
which occurred on the afternoon of 19 June 2006, in Sandawa district in
Kidapawan, while the couple were on their motorcycle.
"Mindanews" quoted Ruby Padilla-Sison, a friend of the Vigo couple who is
now in hiding because of threats, as saying that Madangguit "could have
spoken the truth if brought to court. He could have said his piece as to
whether he was involved in the killing or not".
"A dead man tells no tale," Padilla-Sison added.
The case filed against Madangguit was dismissed by Kidapawan city
prosecutor Al Calica for insufficient evidence in late 2006.
" . . . ow that Madangguit is dead, the plotters of the couple's slaying
are off the hook, while the unfortunate kids of George and Maricel and the
family still long for justice to be served," Padilla-Sison said.
Missionary priest Peter Geremiah, the Vigo's spiritual adviser for more
than 10 years, said that all he's hoping for now is that the investigation
of the Melo Commission, a body organized by President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo to probe the extra-judicial killings in the country, would yield
some result. The Vigo killing was one of the cases the Melo Commission took
up.
Arroyo met with local and foreign media representatives on 14 June 2007 at
the Aguinaldo State Dining Room and vowed that her administration would put
an end to the killing of journalists. The National Union of Journalists,
one of the organizations leading the campaign against the killings, was not
invited to the meeting.
In view of the deluge of libel cases against media, Arroyo also said she
would update a 1990 agreement under which police serving warrants of arrest
for journalists facing libel charges would first notify the National Press
Club and the media organization concerned.
But Arroyo's husband, Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, has filed a total of 11
libel cases against 46 journalists since 2003. Mike Arroyo had a change of
heart after undergoing high-risk heart surgery and has promised to withdraw
his libel suits.
"First of all, let me once again deplore the killings of journalists. We
have a sorry history in our nation for political violence. We aim to break
this cycle of violence once and for all," President Arroyo said, the
website " http://www. inquirer.net " reported.
"I happen to believe that 99 percent of military and policemen and women
are good, outstanding and loyal patriots fighting to protect our country
every day. But if rogue members of police and military are involved, we've
all agreed that they shall be punished," she said.
Arroyo also ordered the creation of a special prosecution team that will
handle cases of media killings.
CMFR has listed 63 journalists/media practitioners killed in the line of
duty since democracy was restored in the country in 1986. Thirty-two of the
63 were killed during the Arroyo administration.
For further information, contact Melinda Quintos de Jesus or Jose F.
Santos, Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), 2nd Floor,
Ateneo Professional Schools, 130 H.V. dela Costa St., Salcedo Village,
Makati City 1227, Metro Manila, Philippines, tel: +632 840 0903, +632 894
1314/1326, tel/fax: +632 840 0889, e-mail: staff@cmfr-phil.org, Internet:
http://www.cmfr-phil.org/
The information contained in this update is the sole responsibility of
CMFR. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit
CMFR.
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