ZAMBOANGA CITY, 25 August 2004 — Two suspects in the killing of a radio broadcaster have surrendered to the police in the southern Philippines after a series of negotiations, officials said.
Police yesterday filed murder charges against Ephraim Englis, a village chieftain in Sarangani’s Malungon town, and his companion Alfonso Tuquero. “We have filed charges against them in connection to the killing of Eliseo Binoya,” said General Santos City police chief Superintendent Willy Dangane.
He said the two surrendered late Monday afternoon. Police did not say the motive in Binoya’s slay. Binoya, who worked with the Radyo Natin in General Santos, was gunned down June 17 while on his way home.
Dangane said Sarangani Gov. Miguel Dominguez helped police convinced the duo to surrender peacefully. “They were picked up at their hiding place in Davao City and brought back home,” he said.
“The negotiation took more than a month and I was able to convince them to surrender peacefully. I also told them that they would have a fair trial,” Dominguez said.
The local media watchdog National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) lauded the authorities in bringing justice to Binoya’s family. “The surrender of the suspects is no doubt the result not only of the PNP’s efforts but also of the vigilance and unity of the media community, particularly those in General Santos,” NUJP secretary-general Carlos Conde said in a statement.
He said: “This only proves that the cooperation of the police and the media community is crucial in dealing with the numerous killings of Filipino journalists.”
The NUJP also urged the police to resolve immediately the killing of dozens of other journalists in the Philippines. It said a total of 56 journalists were killed in the country since 1986 making it the Philippines the most dangerous place for members of the media in the world.
