Thursday, January 22, 2009

Muslim preacher killed in South RP

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 22, 2009) – An unidentified gunman shot dead a Muslim preacher who was also a radio broadcaster in an attack in the restive region of Mindanao in the southern Philippines, police said on Thursday.

Police said Ustadz Badrodin Abbas, who held a block time radio program over dxCM in Cotabato City, was shot twice in the head at around 9 p.m. Wednesday along Sinsuat Avenue.

Abbas, 38, was driving his mini-jeep when a passenger shot him from behind and escaped after the attack, said Senior Supt. Willie Dangane, chief of police force in Cotabato City.

He said a security camera was able to take footage of the crime.

“We are still investigating this case,” Dangane said, adding, the attacker could have mistaken Abbas for his brother, who regularly drives the jeep.

“This could be a case of mistaken identity. Abbas’ brother is the one usually who drives the jeep. We have reports that his brother is involved in a love triangle,” Dangane said without further elaborating.

Last month, gunmen also murdered Leo Luna Mila, 35, of Radyo Natin in San Roque town in the central Philippine province of Samar. Abbas was the 63rd journalist killed since President Gloria Arroyo came to power in 2001, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.

The World Association of Newspapers said the Philippines is second to Iraq as the most dangerous place for journalists in the world. (Mindanao Examiner)

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