Geneva, Oct 23 (V7N) – The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), an international organization dedicated to media safety and journalists’ rights, has strongly condemned the killing of Filipino journalist Noel Bellen Samar and called for justice for his family and colleagues in the Philippines.
Samar, 54, was attacked by two unidentified gunmen while riding his motorcycle along Maharlika Highway in the Guinobatan area on Monday. He sustained four gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen and was rushed to the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries on October 21.
The veteran broadcaster was affiliated with Kadunong Internet TV and 92.3 dwIZ Radio Station in Legazpi City. Colleagues described him as a passionate journalist known for his fearless reporting and outspoken criticism of local authorities in the Albay region.
In a statement, PEC President Blaise Lempen expressed deep concern over the continuing violence against journalists in the Philippines, urging authorities to ensure a prompt and transparent investigation. “Noel Bellen Samar is the third journalist killed in the Philippines this year and the 147th journalist killed worldwide since January 2025. We demand a full and impartial probe into his murder and punishment for those responsible,” Lempen said.
He further noted that the island nation has already lost two other journalists—Juan Johny Dayang and Erwin Labitad Segovia—to violence since the beginning of 2025.
Several journalist organizations based in Manila have also condemned the attack and called on the Philippine government to take stronger measures to safeguard media professionals and uphold press freedom.
The killing of Samar underscores the growing risks faced by journalists in the Philippines, where threats, intimidation, and targeted violence continue to undermine the nation’s free press and democratic discourse.
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