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By Kent Larsen
LDS Journalist In Philippines Murdered In Political Hit
PAGADIAN CITY, PHILIPPINES -- A local radio journalist, called the leading
media personality in Pagadian City, was murdered November 17th in a hit
apparently meant to silence his on-air criticisms. Olympio Jun Jalapit, Jr.,
who was apparently an LDS Church member, was shot in the head as he left a
Parents-Teachers Community Association meeting, where he served as president
of the board. The still-unsolved murder has led to cries of protest from
local journalists.
Jalapit, a broadcaster for the past six years, was the anchor of the
top-rated morning program "Lampornas," which aired on the Radio Mindanao
Network's (RMN) dxPR-Radyo Agong from 5:45 am to 8:00 am Monday through
Saturday. But Jalapit's criticisms of Philippines environment secretary
Antonio Cerilles and his wife Aurora Cerilles, both of whom hold seats in
the Philippine congress, led to his being taken off his morning show for the
period from November 13 to 20th, after the Cerilles' talked with Butch
Canoy, owner of RMN. Jalapit was on his way to meet with the Cerilles,
evidently to get them to withdraw their complaints so he could get back on
the air.
The role of the Cerilles in getting Jalapit off the air leads Jalapit's
family to suspect that the Cerilles are behind his murder. But because of
the hard-hitting nature of Jalapit's journalism, there is no shortage of
suspects with motive. Jalapit was a vocal critic of many members of the
Philippines' ruling party, including Philippines president Joseph Estrada
Exercito, who is currently facing unrelated impeachment charges in congress.
But Jalapit also criticized the opposition Lakas-NUCD party, and his family
suspects that someone in that party may have been behind his murder.
But Jalapit also earned the ire of a number of police and military
officials, drug syndicates and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Since his
murder, police have learned that the suspected hit man is a former Army
soldier with ties to an illegal drug syndicate. According to Jalapit's wife,
Gina, he has received death threats in the past, either through text
messages on his cell phone or through phones at his office. Police say he
received a death threat at 9 am on the day on his murder, less than two and
one-half hours before he was murdered.
Journalists throughout the Philippines have cried out in protest over the
murder. "We condemn his killing. It was a gruesome and barbaric killing that
should not be condoned," said Alejandro Gesta, manager of dxPR, where
Jalapit worked, and regional coordinator of a society of broadcasters in the
Western Mindanao area of the Philippines. Pagadian City Vice Mayor Flaviano
Fucoy also condemned the murder, and urged media to continue to report, "I
was really outraged by this incident. But this should not stop [local media]
from pursuing the truth."
Meanwhile, some journalists are pointing out that this is not the only
murder of a journalist in the Philippines in an attempt to shut him up.
Journalist-human rights lawyer Ferdie Reyes was killed in February 1996, in
a murder that is still not solved. Earlier this year, another journalist was
murdered in the Mindanao area, but it was later determined that the murder
did not involve his profession.
Meanwhile, as news of Jalapit's murder has hit LDS Internet sites, church
member Yuko Takei has sent out an appeal asking church members to write to
Philippines president Joseph Estrada Ejercito or to the Philippines defense
minister, former LDS Church member Orlando Mercado, urging them to see that
justice be done in the Jalapit case. Takei says that members can reach
Estrada Ejercito at erap98@yahoo.com
or Mercado at osnd@philonline.com .
Jalpit was buried November 25th, following a funeral at an LDS chapel
attended by close to 2,000 people. At the funeral, his mother, Consuelo,
said that Jalapit was not a violent person, but was "a very loving son."
According to reports in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Jalapit was the
fourth of her eight children. He was married and has four children.
Sources:
Slain Zamboanga radioman buried
Philippine Daily Inquirer 26Nov00 D2
By Hernan P. dela Cruz: Inquirer News Service, PDI Mindanao Bureau
Ex-Army soldier tagged Zambo radioman's murder
Phillipine Daily Inquirer 22Nov00 D2
By Hernan P. dela Cruz: Inquirer News Service, PDI Mindanao Bureau
Hard-hitting Pagadian broadcaster shot dead
Philippine Daily Inquirer 18Nov00 D2
By Hernan P. dela Cruz: Inquirer News Service, PDI Mindanao Bureau
Mindanao media outraged by radioman's slay
Philippine Daily Inquirer 19Nov00 D2
By Hernan P. dela Cruz: Inquirer News Service, PDI Mindanao Bureau
Write your senator; write for peace - OPINION
Phillipine Daily Inquirer 20Nov00 D2
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