User:Cmgarciabr/sandbox

Fernando Solijon

=Significance= Fernando “Nanding” Solijon was a radio host for station DXLS Love in Iligan, Philippines before being murdered on August 29, 2013 in the same city. He was 47 years old at the time of his death. Not much is known about Fernando Solijon’s murder, but if speculation is true and his murder was due to his criticism of the governmental corruption in his city, he would have been the 159th journalist murdered in the Philippines since democracy was restored there in 1986.

=Career= Fernando Solijon’s career was that of an anti-corruption advocate. After joining DXLS Love Radio in 2006, Solijon hosted a program called “Sandiganan” (meaning Defender or Refuge). His show focused mainly on public affairs and aired five days a week. During his broadcasts, Solijon regularly commented on corruption among public servants.

=Death= On August 29, 2013, after an evening with friends, Solijon made his way to his vehicle. As he reached his car, two masked assailants on a motorcycle unloaded eight rounds of .45 caliber ammunition into the revered radio host before making their getaway. There still has not been any indictment made regarding Solijon’s murder.

=Context= Fernando Solijon’s radio broadcasts focused on local and community affairs. Prior to his murder Solijon discussed topics ranging from Iligan City’s mayor purchasing an expensive house and car, to village-level officials being a part of the local drug trade. On the day of his murder, Solijon received multiple death threats. One was to have told him that a local funeral home was ready for him, and another was that his coffin was already made. That fateful night in late August, when Solijon was out with friends, he was so worried about his safety, he requested the doors to the establishment where he and his friends were enjoying a drink, be closed so they not be seen.

=Impact= Solijon’s death has resonated throughout the Philippines. Most importantly, however, his death has shined a spotlight on the danger of being a journalist in that country, but especially in the Mindanao region. If Solijon’s murder was related to his work as a radio broadcaster, as many believe, it would have been the 159th murder of a journalist in the Philippines since 1986. Furthermore, two-thirds of those journalists murdered since 1986 had been residents or worked in Mindanao.

=References= http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2013/08/31/death-threats-come-true-for-iligan-radio-commentator/

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/director_general_condemns_killing_of_radio_journalist_fernando_solijon_and_newspaper_editor_vergel_bico_in_the_philippines/#.VFIdhUAa6Sp

http://themediaproject.org/article/philippines-marks-159th-reporter-murder?page=full

http://cpj.org/killed/2013/fernando-solijon.php

http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2013/09/01/iligan-media-workers-to-hold-rally-vs-broadcasters-killing/

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/482979/radiomans-murder-causes-stir-in-iligan-city

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/30/philippines-radio-host-shot-dead-fernando-solijon