Monday, January 24, 2011

Broadcaster killed in the Philippines


ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Jan. 24, 2011) – A lone gunman shot dead a radio broadcaster in a daring broad daylight attack Monday in Palawan province in central Philippines, officials said.

Officials said the gunman was arrested after the shooting that killed Dr Gerry Ortega and police is investigating the motive of the attack.

“We are grieving his death and I have ordered the police to investigate the killing and get the mastermind behind this (murder),” said Mayor Edward Hagedorn, who earlier offered P1 million reward for the capture of the killer.

He said Ortega, a known environmentalist, had criticized illegal mining operations in his radio program in Radio Mindanao Network in Puerto Princesa.

The Radio Mindanao Network said Ortega was shopping for clothes at a thrift shop in San Pedro village in Puerto Princesa City when he was attacked.

More than 140 journalists had been killed in the Philippines since democracy was restored in 1986, but most of the murders remain unresolved. In 2009, gunmen also killed at least 32 journalists who were among 57 people at a political convoy in Maguindanao province in Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner)

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