P50,000 bounty raised for journalist's killers

MANILA, Philippines - Two local press groups on Friday raised P50,000 reward money for any information that would lead to the capture of the gunman and the mastermind behind the killing of female radio anchor Marlina Flores Sumera on Thursday.

Jerry Yap, president of the National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC), and Benny Antiporda, president of the Alyansa ng Filipinong Mamamahayag (Afima), said President Benigno Aquino III should make a firmer and bolder stance against journalist killings.

Sumera is the second journalist to be killed this year and the fourth since Aquino came into power.

“Everybody, including the president, should not be complacent about the lull in killings. The masterminds of these dastardly are still out there and their minions are just about ready to pounce on their next victim. It is high time that we work for the establishment of this superbody which they have already approved in principle last year,” Yap said in a press statement.

Yap urged Aquino to set up a so-called “superbody” against media killings.

He said he has directed committee on press freedom chairman and NPC Director Joel Egco to arrange the release of the reward money from the freedom fund and to drum up support for the proposed inter-agency body.

For his part, Antiporda, a former president of NPC himself, said that regardless of the motive, the fact that a member of the media was again killed in cold blood is alarming as this could spawn another round of killings. He said the government must immediately act to abate such.

“In our sheer desire to have the killer and the mastermind behind the killing of Sumera punished, in our own little way we have contributed and raised this bounty. We call on anyone who has any information on the matter to come forward. Besides this reward, we can promise you protection,” Antiporda said.

He was referring to news reports indicating that the killing could be due to a land dispute involving the victim over a parcel of land in Barangay Maysilo in Malabon City where she resided.

Sumera had been tackling in her radio program over DzME a land dispute in her own neighborhood where she was also the homeowners’ association president.

The 44-year-old victim was married and a mother-of-three. She hosted a public service program at her station and was on her way to work when killed.