New York, December 3, 2008 --The Philippine government should work with police to investigate the rise in fatal attacks on journalists following Tuesday's shooting death of Radyo Natin commentator Leo Mila on central Samar Island, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
No witnesses came forward after the attack, which occurred outside the national radio network's local station office in the town of San Roque , Northern Samar province, according to local press freedom groups and international news reports. Radio employees alerted police after hearing gunfire and finding Mila's abandoned motorcycle still running outside, according to the Manila-based Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility. Police discovered the journalist's body, which had sustained multiple gunshot wounds, at the scene, the center said in a statement.
Mila had reported receiving death threats to local police, and colleagues believe he was targeted for his work, according to the center. Local news reports said his hard-hitting shows tackled sensitive political issues. He had recently reported on irregular funding issues affecting a local high school, according to The Associated Press.
"It is time for the central government, as well as local authorities, to promptly address the climate of impunity that is facilitating rising violence against Philippine journalists," said Bob Dietz, CPJ's Asia program coordinator. "Mila's murder is a reminder that police throughout the Philippines must respond immediately with investigations and protection when journalists are threatened for their work."
At least five other journalists have been ambushed and slain by gunmen--who attack in public areas and escape by motorcycle--in the Philippines this year, according to CPJ research. Three of those were also radio commentators.
CPJ is investigating the November 17 murder of another Radyo Natin journalist, Arecio Padrigo, for links to his work. Padrigo was gunned down on southern Mindanao Island in an incident that appeared to be a targeted attack. Outspoken radio commentators Dennis Cuesta and Martin Roxas both received death threats before being shot and killed for reports on politic issues in their local areas, CPJ has confirmed. The unrelated attacks occurred within a few days of each other in August. Two print journalists, publisher Benefredo Acabal and columnist Bert Sison, were also shot dead this year. The motive for these two attacks has not been confirmed.
Leo Luna Mila, 35, a news anchorman and commentator of Radyo Natin, was gunned down Tuesday in San Roque, Northern Samar, Philippines. Mila was shot 12 times while leaving work. As publisher of the local magazine Peryodista and host of another radio program "Bungkaras" (Wake Up), he had been critical of the New People's Army's forced taxation. He had received threats through text messages last September.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that Mila is the 8th journalist killed in the Philippines this year and the 62nd since 2001, when President  Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo came to power. A total of 122 media people have been murdered since President Cory Aquino overthrew the Marcos dictatorship in 1986. 

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice's Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor, chairman of the "Task Force 211" - Against Political Violence and Extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances in the Philippines, announced that a probe team would be sent to Northern Samar. The Northern Samar provincial police office has also formed "Task Force Mila" to investigate the killing. Two local politicians, including San Roque Mayor Andre Avalon, have offered a P100,000 (US$2 067.80) bounty for any information leading to the capture of the suspects.

Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said, "it is time for the central government, as well as local authorities, to promptly address the climate of impunity that is facilitating rising violence against Philippine journalists. Mila's murder is a reminder that police throughout the Philippines must respond immediately with investigations and protection when journalists are threatened for their work."