Pagadian City where journalists are caught in the crossfire.
Pagadian City is the most dangerous place in the Philippines for journalists — four have been murdered there since 2000, making it the murder capital of the country as far as journalists are concerned.
Journalist Hernan de la Cruz. says it is no longer safe to walk the streets of Pagadian unarmed. He owns several firearms. Other journalists here have similarly armed themselves, after receiving threats by phone or text.

Almost no one here, however, gets caught for such crimes because, many believe, some policemen and local politicians are themselves behind these. The police here have been able to solve only three percent of the crimes committed, a figure that excludes the murder of 13 members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) since 2003. Witnesses are either afraid to talk or just don't care."
Edgar Amoro, a schoolteacher, a witness to the May 2002 murder of journalist Edgar Damalerio, was one exception. He had identified Guillermo "Gimo" Wapille as the gunman in Damalerio's murder, and had vowed to see the case through, despite threats on his life. Wapille, a former policeman, is now in jail, after more than two years of eluding arrest. Last month, Amoro himself was shot dead. A known gun for hire once in the employ of the Pagadian mayor was arrested in connection with his murder, but was later released.

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