Requiem for Ferdie

(Read by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines – NUJP Davao and Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas - KBP-Davao/Region XI, for Ferdie Lintuan as he was laid to his grave on December 30, 2007, Buhangin Memorial Park, Davao City)

As we gather in this place of rest and quiet today, we remember with pain and anguish that fateful eve of Christmas when assailants pumped bullets into Fernando ‘Batman’ Lintuan, our colleague; his crusading voice in the air lanes, we can no longer hear.

It is now forever silenced…

Today we lay Ferdie to rest. But what peace if justice is not yet served? If the masterminds are not yet caught? What peace when we continue to be confronted by the reality that journalists are still not free from conditions that make press freedom in this country far from how it should be?

This light we carry is the symbol, that just as it chases away the dark, through our unwavering fight for justice, the flicker that brings the truth about his death, in the end, prevails.

Goodbye, Ferds, our colleague, an imperfect soul, yes. But a true friend to all, a fellow traveler, a media crusader…

We shall keep the light burning!

JUSTICE FOR FERDIE!
STOP KILLING JOURNALISTS!

Murder of Davao broadcaster is fifth media killing this year

Fernando “Batman” Lintuan, the first president of the Davao Sportswriters Association and broadcaster of DXGO Aksyon Radyo, was gunned down at close range at around 10 am this morning in front of the station.

His death brought to five the number of journalists killed in 2007 and to 54 the number of journalists killed under the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration.

Davao broadcaster gunned down on Christmas

We condemn in the strongest way possible the murder of broadcaster Fernando “Batman” Lintuan, the first president of the Davao Sportswriters Association.

Initial reports revealed that a gunman riding on a motorcycle shot Mr. Lintuan at close range while he was on board a car leaving his radio station, DXGO Aksyon Radyo, at about 10 am today. He sustained a gunshot wound in the head.