Philippines: Radio Presenter Maria Vilma Rodriguez’ Shocking Murder Sparks Fear Over Journalists’ Safety
October 24, 2024 - Zamboanga, Philippines
Women Press Freedom is horrified at the murder of Filipino radio journalist Maria Vilma Rodriguez, who was shot dead by gunmen in the Zamboanga city near her home on the night of October 22. The 56-year-old presenter, who worked with radio channel 105.9 E-Media, is the fifth journalist to be killed in the country since Ferdinand Marcos Jr became its president in June 2022.
Press Freedom in the Philippines has remained under constant threats for the past several years with several journalists killed during the tenure of the notorious former president Rodrigo Duterte, but the state of press freedom continues to remain vulnerable to country's unfavourable conditions for media workers. Rodriguez's killing, too, highlights the increasing danger in which Filipino journalists work. Such heinous acts not only threatens their safety but also undermines democracy.
While this is the first case of a woman journalist’s killing in the Philippines in a long time, WPF has, from 2019-2024, documented at least 22 instances of threats to women journalists including arrests and lengthy imprisonments. Journalist Frenchiemae Cumpio, till date, remains behind bars despite a change of government, while the high-profile case of Maria Ressa’s legal harassment recently witnessed the provision of justice after a court reversed the shutdown order of her news outlet, Rappler.
WPF welcomes the arrest of a man suspected to be Rodriguez's killer, but we demand that the authorities in the Philippines ensure swift justice for the slain journalist and safety of those working to report the truth. A fair probe and accountability in this case is inevitable.
We demand authorities in the region to stop weaponizing the law to attack journalists and undermine press freedom. We also call for their immediate release and for them to be allowed to work freely without any fear of retaliation.
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