Bishops in Philippines condemn killing of radio journalist
May 10, 2012: Catholic bishops on Wednesday condemned the killing of a reporter of
a Church-run radio station in the province of Davao Oriental. Three unidentified gunmen
shot and killed Nestor Libaton around 2 p.m. on May 8 as he was traveling by motorbike
back to Mati City, after covering a fair.
Archbishop Jose Palma, president
of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, called on authorities to solve
the case as soon as possible. “We hope and pray that the authorities will act on it
and that justice may be pursued,” the prelate said during a Radyo Veritas broadcast.
“Whoever
did this should realize the grave sin they committed,” Palma said. The National Union
of Journalists of the Philippines also condemned the killing. Libaton was the third
journalist killed in the Philippines in the past 15 days. Libaton hosted a program
that focused on development projects by the provincial government. Police say they
have yet to establish a motive for the killing.