Radioman killed in ambush

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — A radio broadcaster was shot dead inside his car in Barangay Piapi of this city Thursday morning, the second killed in such fashion since 2018.

Police identified the victim as Dindo Generoso, 67.

Initial police investigation showed that Generoso was on his way to radio station dyEM to host his morning program when his car was peppered with bullets by yet unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen. He was killed on the spot.

Six to seven bullet holes were found at the driver’s window of Generoso's car.

As of this writing, police are still investigating the crime, which happened just outside a public elementary school. Police noted that Generoso was unarmed.

President Rodrigo Duterte has since ordered authorities to conduct a "thorough investigation" into Generoso’s killing.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo also said in a press briefing Thursday that Malacañang condemns his murder.

His death marks the second time since 2018 that a local media personality was gunned down in this city.

On April 30, 2018, motorcycle-riding gunmen shot broadcaster Edmund Sestoso near his boarding house in Barangay Daro. He died from his injuries the following day.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) also condemned the recent killing through a statement, saying that based on information from Dumaguete media, it has reason to believe that the murder may have been work-related, just like Sestoso's.

"If this is proven to be the case, he would be the 14th journalist murdered under the Duterte administration and the 187th since 1986," NUJP national chairperson Jose Jaime "Nonoy" Espina said.

Espina added that while they have yet to confirm if Generoso's murder was work-related or not, he reiterated that "nothing and nothing will very justify murder."

For its part, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), through its chief Usec. Joel Egco, said that it is "on top of the situation" and will assume that the broadcaster's killing is work-related unless proven otherwise.

"We commit that no stone will be left unturned when it comes to dealing with media killings. We will continue to fight for peace, and the freedom of the press to do their job without threats of retribution," said Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, who is also PTFoMS co-chair.

For his part, Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo said he was "saddened and outraged" by Generoso's murder, calling it a "dastardly act of cowardice."

Generoso ran for mayor in 2016 but lost to Remollo. JMD (FREEMAN)