CPJ urges justice after Philippine radio journalist killed

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 27 May 2026 |  JP Asia Desk

CPJ urged Philippine authorities to investigate the May 21 killing of radio reporter Nestor Micator in Malidegao, Cotabato, who was shot near a village hall and later died at Cruzado Medical Hospital. The group demanded that those responsible be identified and prosecuted to end impunity.

Summary

BANGKOK—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged Philippine authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the killing of radio journalist Nestor Micator, who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Cotabato province last week amid renewed concerns over impunity for media killings in the Philippines.

Micator, a reporter for Empire Radio Station, was killed on May 21 in Malidegao town after two men riding a motorcycle opened fire on him near a village hall at around 7 p.m., according to local media reports and a CPJ statement issued Wednesday. He was declared dead on arrival at Cruzado Medical Hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound to the head.

The attackers reportedly fled the scene on motorcycles without license plates, while police said nearby CCTV cameras were not functioning at the time of the shooting.

CPJ cites continuing impunity concerns

CPJ said Micator’s killing reflected a continuing “cycle of impunity” surrounding attacks on journalists in the Philippines, which has long ranked among the world’s most dangerous countries for media workers.

“Journalist Nestor Micator’s brutal killing is an outrage and symptomatic of the unbroken cycle of impunity in the Philippines,” CPJ Senior Southeast Asia Representative Shawn Crispin said in the organization’s statement.

The press freedom group called on the government of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to identify and prosecute those responsible, warning that unresolved media murders continue to endanger journalists across the country.

Journalist reportedly received threats

According to an Inquirer.net report cited by CPJ, Micator’s widow said several individuals arrested in a prior anti-drug operation had blamed the journalist’s reporting on police anti-drug activities for their arrests.

Police reportedly identified three persons of interest but withheld their names while investigators continued building their case. Authorities have not publicly announced arrests in connection with the killing.

Micator also reportedly served on a local community board involved in conflict resolution efforts in Fort Pikit, located within Malidegao town, according to regional reports.

Second journalist killed in a month

Micator is the second journalist killed in the Philippines within a month. CPJ noted that journalist RJ Nichole Ledesma was fatally shot on April 19 during a Philippine Army anti-insurgency operation in Negros Occidental province.

International press freedom organizations have repeatedly raised concerns over violence against journalists in the Philippines, particularly in provincial areas where local reporters often cover crime, corruption, insurgency, and political disputes with limited protection.

The Philippine National Police did not immediately respond to CPJ’s request for comment, according to the organization’s statement.

WHY THIS MATTERS: The killing adds to growing concerns about journalist safety and unresolved attacks against media workers in the Philippines, an issue closely watched by press freedom organizations worldwide. For news organizations and journalists across Asia, the case underscores the continuing risks faced by local radio reporters covering crime, governance, and security issues in politically sensitive regions.

ATTRIBUTION: Reporting by JournalismPakistan, based on publicly available statements from the Committee to Protect Journalists (May 27, 2026), Inquirer.net reporting referenced by CPJ, and regional media reports published on May 21–27, 2026.

PHOTO: Journalist Nestor Micator (Courtesy: Empire Radio Station)