World | Philippines
Philippine community newspaper publisher shot dead
The authorities are looking for the possible motive behind the killing of the publisher of a community newspaper in the south of this capital city on Monday.
- By Gilbert Felongco, Correspondent
- Published: 23:38 April 8, 2008
Manila: The authorities are looking for the possible motive behind the killing of the publisher of a community newspaper in the south of this capital city on Monday.
Benefredo Acabal, 34, and a publisher of the Cavite-based Pilipino Newsmen, was killed by a lone gunman.
The killer immediately left the site on a motorcycle, police in suburban Pasig City said citing statements from a witness.
According to Rowena Paraan, Philippine representative of the Belgium-based International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Acabal succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds later in the evening.
Acabal lives in Silang town in Cavite province.
Paraan said an army sergeant, who is a friend of the victim, rushed Acabal to the Rizal Medical Centre where he died.
Paraan said the authorities are looking into the possibility that the killing was connected with his work as a community journalist.
There have been incidents in the past where community-based journalists have been killed in connection with their job.
According to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), at least 91 Filipino media persons have been killed in the line of duty since 1986.
A series of journalist killings two years ago had prompted President Gloria Arroyo to form a special body to look into such incidents.
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