Photojournalist on critical newspaper murdered

Reporters Without Borders called today on provincial and national authorities to thoroughly investigate the murder on 21 May of photojournalist Dodie Nunez, of the regional newspaper Katapat, which had criticised corruption. It said the killing may have had political motives. Nunez was returning home in Cavite province, south of Manila, when three motorcyclists stopped the bus he was on and shot him dead, wounding another person. Katapat editor Archie Gadang stood for provincial governor in elections earlier this month, since when the winner, Ireneo Maliksi, has sued him for libel. During the campaign, the paper had accused Maliksi of corruption. Several Filipino journalists have been killed in the wake of elections in revenge for often fierce criticism of local politicians. Roberto Ramos, also of Katapat, was killed by motorcycle gunmen on 20 November 2005.