Philippine radio journalist gunned down near Legazpi City
| Publisher | Reporters Without Borders |
| Publication Date | 20 July 2018 |
| Cite as | Reporters Without Borders, Philippine radio journalist gunned down near Legazpi City, 20 July 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5bc6eed44.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
July 20, 2018
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns Philippine radio journalist Joey Llana's murder today near Legazpi City, at the southeastern tip of the island of Luzon, and calls on the authorities to do everything possible to find those responsible.
Joey Llana, 38, was gunned down early this morning as he drove to work at Radio DwZR in Legazpi City, where he hosted a morning radio programme. The local police said he was hit at least 14 times in the head and body by shots fired by five unidentified gunmen.
The police have not yet identified a motive but a relative said Llana had recently received death threats, which suggests that he was targeted in connection with his work. President Duterte's spokesman, Harry Roque condemned the murder and said it would be investigated by the Presidential Task Force on Media Security.
"We condemn radio journalist Joey Llana's murder in the strongest terms as it is a serious press freedom violation, and we welcome the decision by the president's office to open an immediate investigation and its declared desire to render justice to the victim," RSF's Asia-Pacific desk said.
"The Philippines, which is one of the most dangerous countries for journalists in Asia, must do everything possible to effectively combat violence against the media and impunity for this violence."
If the initial suspicions are confirmed, Llana will be the third journalist to have been murdered this year in the Philippines in connection with their work. Newspaper journalist Dennis Denora was slain in a similar fashion in the southern province of Davao del Norte in June, as was radio show host Edmund Sestoso in the central province of Negros Oriental in May.
At least six other journalists have been killed in connection with their work since Rodrigo Duterte, who is prone to virulent verbal attacks on the media, was elected president in 2016.
The Philippines fell six places in RSF's 2018 World Press Freedom Index and is now ranked 133rd out of 180 countries.
