The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines condemned the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid, who was shot this Monday night in Las Piñas.
“The killing shows that journalism remains a dangerous profession in the country. That the incident took place in Metro Manila indicates how brazen the perpetrators were, and how authorities have failed to protect journalists as well as ordinary citizens from harm,” according to NUJP.
NUJP also said Lapid is a critic of the Duterte administration and some officials of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., where he recently denounced the dangers of red-tagging, especially the threats against Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar after he will dismiss the Department of Justice’s proscription case against the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the New People’s Army (NPA).
He also criticized the historical distortion of Martial Law, and warned about the dangers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
The NUJP added that Lapid is the second journalist to die under the Marcos administration, after the stabbing of radio broadcaster Rey Blanco in Mabinay, by his neighbor in Negros Oriental on 18 September 2022.
“We call on the public to join us in condemning yet another killing of a journalist. We call on the Philippine National Police to hold the perpetrators accountable,” NUJP said.