NUJP: Aug 20 is 'Day of Mourning,' wear black

MANILA, Philippines - The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) on Tuesday said August 20 will be a “National Day of Mourning" as they called on the media to wear black that day in protest over the continuing murders of journalists in the country. In a statement, the NUJP said journalists will converge at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City for a “tribute" to slain media practitioners. They also encouraged the media to join protest actions organized by the NUJP and other media organizations. On Monday, Task Force 211 or the “Task Force Against Political Violence" under the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed murder charges against Inspector Redempto Acharon of the General Santos police for the killing of Dennis Cuesta, a Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) broadcaster. Cuesta was shot by unidentified gunmen last August 4. He died five days later in a hospital. Three days after Cuesta's shooting, another RMN broadcaster, Martin Roxas, was shot dead by assailants in the province of Capiz. On Friday, Justice Undersecretary and Task Force 211 head Ricardo Blancaflor said prosecutors found probable cause to file murder charges against a certain Kristian E. Tan and Joenel V. Lastimoso, who were arrested by authorities last week for the killing of RMN’s Martin Roxas in Capiz. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV