Broadcaster’s 2 gunmen identified

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Authorities have identified the two men who gunned down radio broadcaster Samuel Oliverio in Digos City, Davao del Sur last Friday.

Oliverio, 60, was riding his motorcycle with his wife on the way to the market when two men on another motorcycle blocked their path and shot him in the head. Oliverio’s wife was not hit but she fell off the motorcycle.

Digos City police chief Superintendent Querubin Manalang did not identify the gunmen, citing ongoing police operations.

He said police are preparing the charges in the event that the two gunmen are arrested.

Malacañang condemned the killing and ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to investigate the incident.

The PNP has formed a special investigation task group to look into Oliverio’s killing.

PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima directed the regional police to ensure that the assailants are caught and prosecuted.

Several sectors also condemned the killing, with Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate saying that the state of impunity under the Aquino administration is worsening as more and more journalists, activists and critics of the government are being killed.

“As we mark the 54th month of the Ampatuan massacre, the Aquino administration should do everything to stop the killings. The buck stops with President Aquino; he can no longer pass the blame on some other people or agency,” said Zarate, a former journalist based in Davao City.

Based on the data of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, Oliverio is the 164th journalist killed in the country since 1986 and the 28th under the Aquino administration. – Mike Frialde, Paolo Romero