Mindanao journalist Julie Alipala, fearless conflict reporter, dies

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Journalist Julie Alipala was a leading female reporter covering Mindanao’s conflict zones, extensively reporting from Basilan and Sulu while working in dangerous environments and advocating for press freedom and journalist safety

MANILA, Philippines – Veteran Mindanao-based journalist Julie Alipala died past midnight on Thursday, April 3, in Zamboanga City after battling cancer, her family said. She was 58.

Alipala, a longtime correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, was known for her fearless reporting on conflict and human rights in Mindanao. She covered insurgencies, abductions, and military operations across the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Bangsamoro region for nearly three decades.

She was widely recognized for her reporting on the Abu Sayyaf, including the group’s abduction of Christian missionaries, and for documenting the impact of the Mindanao conflict on local communities.

Her sister, Emma Alipala, confirmed her death to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), where she had served as a director.

Alipala was among the leading women journalists covering conflict zones in Mindanao. She reported extensively about Basilan and Sulu, often working in dangerous environments while advocating for press freedom and journalist safety.

In 2002, she exposed links between extremist groups and elements of the military, drawing threats and harassment. She was blacklisted from military camps and received anonymous warnings urging her to stop.

“NUJP mourns the passing of Julie Alipala — a colleague, friend, and an outspoken defender of press freedom… She did not shy away from covering difficult stories, sometimes at the risk of her own safety, both online and offline,” the NUJP directorate said in a statement.

The NUJP said Alipala was harassed in 2018 over a report on the deaths of seven farmers in Sulu, who were accused of being members of the Abu Sayyaf but whom relatives said were only out to pick fruit. Her reporting on the killings led to online harassment.

By 2019, as election season intensified, she faced online attacks from suspected supporters of powerful politicians.

Despite threats, Alipala continued reporting. In 2013, she won the International Committee of the Red Cross Award for Humanitarian Reporting for her coverage of war-affected communities. She was also a finalist in the 2016 Catholic Mass Media Awards.

The NUJP recognized Alipala’s significant contributions to promoting journalists’ welfare and safety, serving as an instructor for numerous training sessions and workshops across the country.

“NUJP remembers its former director fondly and vows to carry on the work in her honor,” the group stated.

Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced. – Rappler.com