From PCIJ:


Marlene Esperat, a journalist/anti-graft crusader, was killed in

Sultan Kudarat last week. Marlene was a good friend of PCIJ’s and a

source for some of our corruption stories.


…

For years, Marlene Esperat was the resident whistleblower at the

Department of Agriculture, which she said was one of the most corrupt

agencies in government. The DA has one of the largest budgets but

Marlene said that its decentralized operations make it hard to detect

graft.

…

On Maundy

Thursday, the assassins did come. Marlene was killed in cold blood, in

front of her children, with a single bullet fired by a gunman who

casually walked into the living room of her home in Tacurong, Sultan

Kudarat.



A sad day for Filipino journalism; another sad day, actually.  It

has been written and said that the Philippines is second only to Iraq

as being a hot-spot for journalists (IFJ, PCIJ). 

Quite ironic for a nation that claims to be foremost in advocating

democracy and press freedom in this side of the world.


Notably, this particular PCIJ article was published in the March 29, 2005 edition of the Philippine Star.  

I remember PCIJ used to publish with the Inquirer, perhaps Star’s most

direct competitor.  I do recall that PCIJ’s Online Manager, Mr. Alecks Pabico, mentioned something about this late last year.


Ah, the perils of journalism.


Fare thee well, Ms. Marlene Esperat.


Take stock of your health. Learn about hypertension now.

Tags: | Viewed 936 times

Related Posts