Fernando Batul

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Puerto Princesa, Palawan is in the Philippines shown here relative to the capital Manila.

Grenade attack

Because of his commentaries, Batul became a subject of numerous death threats. [8] [9] DYPR once hired a security guard to keep angry listeners from attacking him. [8]

On April 24, 2006, a failed grenade attack occurred at his family residence in Puerto Princesa. Two thrown [13] but unexploded live grenades were found, both were safely detonated by the local police; along with a written letter, [12] [13] threatening his family [13] and warning him of dire consequences on them if he continued his criticisms. [10] [12] [13]

He alleged that those behind the incident were police [10] and officials whom he had criticized on DYPR. [12] [13] By following month, the perpetrators were neither identified [13] nor arrested. [12]

Nevertheless, Batul continued his commentaries. [12] He refused to take extra precautions, according to his friend, Ortega, former DYPR station manager. Lourdes Escaros-Paet, his co-worker, later revealed that he was supposed to file in Manila on May 24 a media corruption case against two broadcasters in a rival radio station in the province. [1] [ better source needed ]

Death

Assassination

On May 22, 2006, Batul, scheduled to air his program at 6:30 a.m. over DYPR, [2] [9] was on his way to work driving his multicab when he was blocked [9] and shot at close range by two motorcycle-riding men, [1] [10] [9] [11] wearing helmets, [9] [11] at a street corner, [2] [9] at least 100 meters from radio station compound. [2] There were also two other men on another motorcycle reportedly served as "lookouts." [9] All of the suspects then escaped. [1] [9]

He was brought to nearby Cooperative Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. [1] [2] [9] Batul sustained twelve gunshot wounds, [2] mostly in the head and chest, [1] from .45 caliber and 9-mm pistols. [1] [9] [11] [lower-alpha 1]

He was the first journalist killed in the province; [3] [1] and the fifth in the country in 2006. [1] [11]

Reactions

Then mayor Hagedorn, reacting to the suspicions, [8] immediately denied his involvement in the assassination. [1] [8] [9] [11]

The provincial government of Palawan and city government of Puerto Princesa [2] [9] [11] each offered half-a-million-peso reward for information on the killers. [1] [ better source needed ]

The killing was widely believed work-related. [1] [11]

Malacañang, through Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, condemned the killing, directing authorities to hasten their investigation. President Gloria Arroyo tasked the Philippine National Police for this. [9] Expressed condemnation as well were media colleagues (Palawan Press Club), political leaders (Rep. Abraham Mitra), and his supporters (a church bishop). [1] [ better source needed ]

Investigation and trial

Police officer Aaron Golifardo, reportedly identified by witnesses, [4] was charged with murder two days after the incident. [10] Golifardo was criticized in Batul's May 11 broadcast for allegedly showing a weapon during an argument in a karaoke bar. [10] Hearings in the suspect's trial began in September; [10] ended on April 11, 2011 when Palawan Regional Trial Court Branch 95 acquitted Golifardo, [3] [10] citing the prosecution's failure to establish that he is one of the killers. [4] Another assailant was never identified. [3] [10] [4] The case remains unsolved. [3]

Meanwhile, two Batul's colleagues investigating his death reportedly fled Palawan in June 2006 due to safety concerns after receiving threats. [10]

United States-based media watchdog group Committee to Protect Journalists expressed dismay over Golifardo's acquittal as they noted that the verdict was reported only by a few media outlets. It said that the murder case remains open, and the impunity with killings of journalists in the country remains "a matter of national shame." By then, the Philippines ranks third on its impunity index. [4]


Context

Prior to Batul's death, the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility counted 57 [2] or 58 [11] journalists killed in the line of duty since the restoration of democracy in 1986 (in 2006, two were confirmed killed in the line of duty). [11] For the past six years, like Batul, other journalists were reporting on anomalies in their communities at the time of their deaths, as suggested by their study of media killings released in 2005. [2]

Also, before Batul was murdered, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, 78 reporters were listed that were killed since democracy in the country was restored in 1986. Safety of journalists in the Philippines was becoming more of a concern as the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists said the situation "has gone from bad to worse" after a tabloid photographer was murdered and hours later another journalist was beaten. [18] A total of 120 journalists have been killed in the Philippines in line of duty since 1986 and Batul was the 67th. That means 66 journalists had been murdered before Batul in the Philippines before him in just 20 years. [19] The station where Batul worked, DYPR, once had to hire a security guard to keep angry listeners from attacking a different radio commentator. [5]

Impact

Batul's death has impacted people and the society in many ways, from keeping people in hiding and trying to convince their innocence, to people fleeing and striking fear into other journalists. Letty Batul, Fernando Batul's sister, has described that since her brother's killing, many campaign journalists have fled the area. She also pointed out that the murder of her brother and another popular journalist, Gerry Ortega, had silenced serious whistleblowing journalism in the area. [20] Batul's murder is still somewhat of a mystery as people are still questioning who really was behind the murder today. In 2013, Edward Hagedorn was still trying to convince people that he had no connection in the murders of Batul and Ortega. He compared his own situation as someone who has not gone into hiding with others who had fled, like the Reyes brothers who were still in hiding since evidence connected them to the murder of Ortega. [21]

Reactions

On May 29, 2006, Koïchiro Matsuura, director-general of UNESCO, condemned the murder of Fernando "Dong" Batul. In his statement, Matsuura demanded authorities bring the culprits to justice. He said, "It is completely unacceptable that murder be used to silence opinions. Such violence targets not only its individual victims but society as a whole, because open debate and the basic human right of freedom of expression are indispensable fundamental components of democracy and rule of law." as said by Mr. Matsuura while giving his speech on the condemnation of Batul. [22]

Bishop Pedro Arigo of Puerto Princesa dedicated World Communications Day, May 28, to Batul who was active in Church movements. Father Eugene Elivera, who was the director of the local Church's Social Action and Special Concerns office, said on May 26 that all masses that Sunday would be dedicated to the slain Batul. [23]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ As per news reports, Batul was shot either four [9] or six [4] times; the latter according to Committee to Protect Journalists. [10]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Bandillo News Team (May 23, 2006). "Dong Batul shot dead". Bandillo ng Palawan. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (May 22, 2006). "Palawan radio journalist killed". The PCIJ Blog. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Escaros, Lourdes (June 5, 2020). "Trese: Dong Batul… A Hero to Everyone". Palawan Daily News. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Intl media group dismayed over acquittal of ex-cop in Batul murder". GMA News Online . April 21, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "The life and death of a crusader: The Ghost Of Dong Batul". Center for Media Freedom & Responsibility. March 7, 2007.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 "FERNANDO U. "DONG" BATUL: Para sa Diyos at sa Bayan, Bastonero ng Palawan". Kulog at Kidlat. June 17, 2006. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Fernando "Dong" Batul, 36" (PDF). Center for Media Freedom & Responsibility (Philippines). May 22, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 20, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Arquiza, Yasmin (March 7, 2007). "The life and death of a crusader: The Ghost Of Dong Batul". cmfr-phil.org. Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility . Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 "Radio broadcaster shot dead in Palawan". The Philippine Star . May 23, 2006. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Batul's profile at CPJ:
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (May 23, 2006). "Radio journalist killed in Puerto Princesa, Palawan province, following death threat". IFEX . Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (May 15, 2006). "Grenades found inside radio journalist's home". IFEX . Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Palawan radioman, family cheat death as grenades fail to explode". GMA News Online . May 16, 2006. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  14. 1 2 Bandillo ng Palawan News Service (May 21, 2001). "Hold of Hagedorn on Puerto crumbles". The Philippine Star . Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  15. 1 2 3 Galili, Cheryl (October 25, 2009). "Hagedorn and Bayron still qualified to run in 2010". palawantimes.com. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015.
  16. ↑ G.R. No. 157687, 158959 (February 26, 2004), F. Batul vs. L. Bayron and Commission on Elections (First Division) (Supreme Court (en banc) decision), retrieved March 24, 2021
  17. ↑ Panadero, Austere (June 22, 2009). "Legal opinion on eligibility of Mr. Bayron to run in the 2010 elections" (PDF). Letter to Felicasio Javier. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Philippine broadcaster and ex-vice mayor shot dead". China Daily. Associated Press. May 22, 2006.
  19. ↑ "Alleged gunman in the 2006 murder of broadcaster acquitted - SEAPA – Southeast Asian Press Alliance". seapa.org.
  20. ↑ Gonzales, Iris Cecilia (June 17, 2011). "Transparency and Accountability a Victim in Palawan as Media Cowed into Silence". peranatinito.net.
  21. ↑ Dizon, David (February 26, 2013). "Hagedorn owns Jollibee Branch, leases land to McDonalds". abs-cbnnews.com.
  22. ↑ "United Nations News Centre". UN News Service Section. May 29, 2006.
  23. ↑ "World Communications Day Dedicated To Slain Journalist". UCANews.com. May 26, 2006.
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Fernando Batul
Fernando Batul.jpg
Vice Mayor of Puerto Princesa
In office
June 30, 2001 –July 21, 2003