MANILA (AFP) - – Local politicians have emerged as the main suspects in the murders of two journalists in the Philippines, police said on Tuesday, amid mounting anger over a new rash of press killings.
The two radio broadcasters, who were known for criticising powerful figures in their communities, were among three journalists shot dead last week in separate parts of the country.
Police said they had recommended murder charges against Pacifico Velasco, a newly elected town vice-mayor, and one of his bodyguards, for the murder of Jovelito Agustin on June 15 in the northern Philippines.
Superintendent Bienvenido Rayco said eyewitnesses and evidence showed that the bodyguard, a nephew of Velasco, shot Agustin dead while the broadcaster was riding home on his motorcycle.
Velasco and his men also face separate attempted murder charges for firing on Agustin's house in May, said Rayco. Agustin was a well-known critic of Velasco.
In the south of the country, police said they had also recommended murder charges against a village chief and a policeman for the killing of Desidario Camangyan on June 14, said local Senior Superintendent Jose Jorge Corpus.Camangyan had made powerful enemies for his criticism of illegal logging.
However, the police warned that these cases would have to go through a prolonged legal process before any arrests.
Under the Philippine legal system, prosecutors make the final decision on the filing of charges in court.
The killing of three journalists in one week affirmed the Philippines' status as one of the most dangerous places for the press, and were widely condemned at home and abroad.
The US State Department on Monday urged Philippine authorities to quickly bring those responsible to justice, while global press groups voiced outrage.
Politicians and other powerful government figures are often blamed for the killings of journalists in the Philippines.
Press groups say the high death rate is partly due to the many unlicensed firearms and a "culture of impunity" where powerful figures believe they are above the law.
The worst such incident took place in the southern island of Mindanao in November, when 57 people including 30 journalists were killed allegedly by the private army of the ruling political clan.
Last year alone, 38 journalists were killed in the Philippines according to media watchdog the International Press Institute (IPI).
