DAVAO CITY, Philippines - – Another radio broadcaster was killed yesterday, this time in Tagum City, while a radio reporter survived an attempt on his life in Iloilo City.
The attacks came barely two weeks after a radio journalist was killed in Surigao del Sur during the weekend and a radio commentator was slain in Bukidnon.
Police said Rogelio “Tata†Butalid, 44, of Radyo Natin Tagum, was about to leave the radio station after finishing his program when a lone gunman killed him.
Butalid was reportedly critical of the ongoing corporate war between two factions of the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (Daneco).
Authorities suspected the killing could be related to the issue on the Daneco faction, although the investigation was still ongoing.
On the other hand, Jonavin Villalva of Manila Broadcasting Co.’s Aksyon Radyo-Iloilo was repeatedly shot in front of his residence along the Cuartero Highway in Jaro district, Iloilo.
Villalva had just returned home from his radio program when two men on a motorcycle approached him from behind and repeatedly shot him.
Police said Villalva survived and is now in stable condition at the Iloilo Mission Hospital.
Villalva told police investigators that he noticed the suspects riding a black motorcycle had followed him.
Villalva could not think of any motive that could have led to the slay try on him, saying he has no known enemies despite his profession.
“If it’s work-related, we could not say for now, because he’s not been making commentaries on sensitive issues. He has not received any death threats,†said Jaro police director Chief Inspector Rhea Santos.
Butalid is the third media practitioner killed within a week in Mindanao.
Michael Diaz Milo of Tandag, Surigao del Sur was killed last Friday while another radio commentator, Joas Dignos of Bukidnon, was murdered on Nov. 29.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Media Safety Office in Mindanao is currently investigating if Milo’s killing is work-related.
Rowena Paraan, executive coordinator of the NUJP Media Safety Office, said the killing of Dignos was apparently work-related.
If their deaths are proven to be work-related, Butalid and Milo would be the 159th and 160th journalists killed in the line of duty under President Aquino’s administration.
The NUJP said they have recorded 19 work-related media murders, an average of six journalists killed per year under the Aquino administration.
Malacañang condemned the killing of Butalid and gave assurance that the Philippine National Police (PNP) is investigating the incident.
“We extend our condolences to the family of Rogelio Butalid,†Press Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.
“The PNP will do what is necessary to track down those responsible for this,†Coloma said.
The PNP has created Task Force Usig to investigate the killing of journalists. – With Jennifer Rendon, Delon Porcalla, Artemio Dumlao