House Deputy Minority Leader and Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Representative Leila M. de Lima denounced the shooting of broadcaster Noel Bellen Samar in Guinobatan, Albay, calling it another grim reminder of the dangers faced by journalists in the country.
“We strongly condemn the shooting of broadcaster Noel Bellen Samar yesterday in Guinobatan, Albay. We pray for his immediate recovery and call on the Philippine National Police to ensure his safety,” De Lima said in a statement.
De Lima lamented that the Philippines continues to rank among the most dangerous countries in the world for members of the press, citing the prevailing culture of impunity and the continued harassment of journalists and truth-tellers.
“Na para bang sanay na tayong nababalita ang mga pinapatay na tagapagbalita. Na normal lang ang pang-re-red tag o panggigipit sa nagsisiwalat ng katotohanan. Na katanggap-tanggap na ang napakailap na hustisya,” she said.
The opposition lawmaker warned that these attacks have a “chilling effect” on the Fourth Estate—one of the pillars of democracy—and urged the Marcos Jr. administration to take “serious and concrete steps” to ensure accountability for violence against media workers.
“Clearly, these senseless killings, attacks and harassments have a chilling effect on the Fourth Estate—a significant pillar of our democracy. This impunity must end. The Marcos Jr. administration must take serious and concrete steps to bring justice to the victims,” she stressed.
De Lima also emphasized the State’s duty to protect journalists, lawyers, and human rights defenders from violence and intimidation.
“Paano masasabing pinoprotektahan ang demokrasya kung nagpapatuloy ang pagpatay at karahasan sa mga kawani ng media, mga abogado at human rights defenders?” she asked.
Ending her statement with a firm call for justice, De Lima declared:
“Hustisya, hindi bala. Pananagutan, hindi karahasan.”