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Rise in Philippines journalists killings
Agence France Presse - August 3, 2013
Sy's 15-year-old daughter Marisol said her family had just finished dinner when the gunmen struck.
"One unidentified man barged in and shot at him...My father was not hit but the gunman got closer and shot him again," Ms Marisol said. "I ran outside and saw the suspect walking casually toward his companion, who was waiting outside... They disappeared in the dark."
Sy's publisher, John Paul Jubelag of local paper Sapol News, says Sy had been openly critical of neighbourhood drug dealers.
"Mario was very vocal against the alleged open illegal drugs trade in their area...I think, the police should start their investigation by looking at this angle," Mr Jubelag said. Local police say the motive for the attack on Sy has yet to be established.
Rupert Mangilit, secretary-general of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, says earlier this week, two columnists working for a tabloid newspaper that had recently ceased publication in Manila were shot to death.
"We're quite alarmed that despite claims that the environment for journalists is safer now, we have three killings happening in a week," Mr Mangilit said.
New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists says at least 73 Philippine journalists have been killed in direct connection to their work since 1992, making it the second deadliest country in the world for the press.
Critics say widespread gun ownership by civilians and a culture of impunity that sees many among the powerful not being brought to justice for criminal acts are to be blamed.
In 2009, 32 journalists were among 58 people kidnapped and murdered allegedly by a powerful political clan in the southern province of Maguindanao.
"Since the Maguindanao massacre, this marked the first time that we had more than two journalists killed in a week," Mr Mangilit said.
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