Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros condemned the brazen attack on press freedom "but this also demonstrates the inherent power of speech and truth telling."
Hontiveros was reacting to the cold blooded killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid, brother of former Manila Bulletin reporter Roy Mabasa, in Las Pines last night.
"Sir Percy was a strong dissenting voice that made sure government officials did not become too comfortable with power. Ang pagpatay tulad ng kay Percy ay tila may pagpapahiwatig na kung kontra ka, kung kritikal ka, patatahimikin ka (The murder of Percy appears to show that you are marked for killing if you are "against or is critical."
"Percy's death, and all the deaths of all other journalists before him, will never silence us. We will never tolerate a society that is afraid of the truth. Patuloy nating ipaglalaban ang katarungan at katotohanan, para na rin sa ating mga anak (We shall continue to fight for justice and truth, for the sake of our children)," she stressed.
"I join Percy’s family and friends in their grief and call for justice. I call on authorities to conduct an impartial investigation and speedily get to the bottom of this murder," she said.
"To our friends in the media, I am with you. We will continue to hold the line with you," she added.
Sen. Robin Padilla, in a separate statement, also condemned the killing of Lapid.
“There is no place for crime in our midst, especially a brutal attack on a Filipino - be it a member of the media, a civilian, or a member of our uniformed personnel,” Padilla said.
“This murder of a mediaman is an attack on the right to freedom of expression that is enshrined in our Constitution,” he added.
Aside from offering his sincere sympathy to the family and loved ones of the broadcaster, Padilla called on authorities to apprehend the perpetrators and solve the crime as soon as possible.
“I join our people's calls for justice for Percy, and for the proper punishment against those behind this revolting incident,” he said. (With reports from Hannah L. Torregoza)