Radio commentator shot dead in Albay

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — A block-time broadcaster was shot dead early yesterday morning in Daraga, Albay.

Joey Llana, 38, of dwZR, was pulling out of his house garage in Barangay Peñafrancia on his way to work when gunmen opened fire on his black Isuzu sport utility vehicle with plate number RGL-683.

Five bullets hit Llana in the head while two pierced his torso, according to Senior Inspector Malou Calubaquib, Philippine National Police (PNP) Region 5 spokesperson.

Emergency responders led by Celestino Rosales declared Llana dead at about 6:05 a.m.

Scene of the crime operatives reportedly found a sling bag containing seven sachets of shabu, but this was doubted by the victim’s brother Jose, who lived in the same house with their mother.

“It was planted. He doesn’t use (a) sling bag,” Jose said. “To divert the issue, they planted drugs.”

He said that last week, two men had visited their house and asked: “Is this Joey Llana’s house?”

When their mother asked who they were, the two did not reply and left.

“He texted me last week, saying he had (been receiving death threats) but just took it lightly,” said Merwin, Llana’s youngest brother.

The deceased was separated from his wife, with whom he had a child.

But Senior Police Officer 1 Brian Pallan said the bag containing the suspected shabu was opened in the presence of Llana’s relatives and barangay officials. The bag also contained cash, cellphones and a laptop, which Pallan claimed was opened within an hour after Llana was pronounced dead.

A blackout here prevented the PNP crime laboratory from confirming whether the substance in the sachets was shabu, Pallan added, but estimated its street value to be around P210,000.

“The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) strongly condemn the killing of (Llana),” said Tito Ordinario, Love Radio station manager and KBP-Albay chapter president. 

Ordinario condoled with the family of Llana as he urged all media practitioners in Albay to be fair and objective in their reportage and commentary.

“We will have an emergency meeting today to help the investigators,” said Ordinario.

Meanwhile, investigators led by Daraga police chief Senior Supt. Benito Dipad said empty shells recovered were from a 9mm handgun and a caliber 45 pistol.

“We have also recovered the victim’s cellphone, which is now with the investigators (for them) to extract any information whether (Llana) had death threats that can shed light on the killing,” said Dipad.

Dipad added that residents near the crime scene heard gunshots and motorcycles speeding away at about 4:35 a.m.

Dipad said a task force is being formed to investigate the broadcaster’s killing.

Investigators are also reviewing the victim’s Facebook posts.

Media security

Malacañang officials assured media that the government is not taking the killings of journalists lightly as they vowed justice for Llana.

Presidential Communications Operations Office chief Secretary Martin Andanar and presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. condemned Llana’s killing.

“We strongly condemn the killing as yet another infringement on the rights to life and a free press,” Roque said.

Andanar directed the Presidential Task Force of Media Security (PTFoMS) to work hard in ensuring that no stone will be left unturned in the probe on Llana’s killing.

Andanar added that PTFoMS would coordinate with the PNP to speed up the resolution of the case and work for the arrest of the perpetrators.

It will be recalled that President Duterte signed an order creating PTFoMS to look into violations of the right to life, liberty and security of the members of the media in October 2016.

“We have already profiled (Llana),” said Joel Sy Egco, executive director of PTFoMS.

Egco added that he has instructed Task Force Usig at Camp Crame to coordinate with its counterpart at the PNP headquarters at Camp Ola, this city, to conduct a probe on the killing.

“They have to submit a report within 24 hours,” said Egco.

Llana was shot at close range on his way to anchor his radio program “Metro Banat,” which aired from 5:30 a.m. to 7 a.m., Monday to Friday.

“If proven to be related to his work, his death would be the 12th media killing under (Duterte),” said Lottie Salarda, media safety officer of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.

Llana was known for his no-holds barred commentary.

Before he anchored his latest program, Llana was a block timer in various radio stations since he entered the broadcast industry in the early 2000s.

Senators Grace Poe and Sonny Angara condemned the killing of Llana, saying this has no place in a civilized and democratic society.

Poe, in a statement, said the killing was a deplorable act and urged the authorities to move swiftly to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Angara aired his outrage at the killing of yet another media practitioner, which he said “deserves no less than condemnation.”Sen. Leila de Lima recently called for the grant of hazard pay and insurance coverage for journalists, especially those who are assigned to cover conflict or disaster areas. – With Christina Mendez, Emmanuel Tupas, Cet Dematera, Artemio Dumlao, Marvin Sy