Philippines
Filipino court convicts hit man for murder of journalistPosted Feb 8 2010
A hit man received a life sentence for the murder of local radio journalist Edgar Amoro.
Mohammad “Madix” Maulana shot Amoro dead in Feb. 2005, when Amoro was under the government's witness protection program. Amoro was under protection after he witnessed the murder of his friend, Edgar Damalerio, who was also a journalist.
Reporters Without Borders reports that Amuro planned to testify against Guillermo Wapile, a police officer who was convicted of killing Damalerio in 2005.
Maulana will pay Amoro's family about $4,000 in damages and civil indemnity. Amoro's family has been in the witness protection program following his murder.
After the conviction was announced, Cebu Daily News reports the family released a statement reading, “The fruit of all labor and extraordinary sacrifice is evident where hope is close at hand. (We) do not just speak in behalf of my family but also on behalf of all the families of slain journalists in our country who cry for justice for the death of their loved ones.”
According to Reporters Without Borders, about 165 journalists have been killed since 1986, when the country became a democracy.