Mindoro broadcaster survives shooting

CALAPAN CITY, Philippines  â€“ A hard-hitting broadcast journalist survived after a security aide of the mayor of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro shot him in a restaurant on the night of March 28, police said.

Radamalyn Cardoza, a block timer at radio station Bambi-FM, managed to run out of the Lee Biangs Grill House as the suspect, Cornelio Callado, a retired policeman, fired at him.

According to a report, SPO1 Romeo Molino led responding fellow policemen in arresting Callado, a security aide of San Jose Mayor Romulo Festin.

Police confiscated from Callado a .45-caliber Colt pistol. Two spent shells were recovered at the scene.

Cardoza is a known critic of Festin. He has criticized the mayor in his commentaries in his radio program. 

A local court earlier had declared Festin’s opponent Jose Villarosa the winner in the 2013 mayoral race.

Festin, however, got a temporary restraining order from the Commission on Elections and has been staying in the municipal hall for more than a month now.

Police said Cardoza was having dinner with friends in the restaurant when Callado went to his table and greeted him.

Cardoza even invited Callado to join them, but the retired policeman replied: “Sige, magpakabusog ka at baka pumayat (Go ahead, eat well so you won’t get thin).” Cardoza only ignored the remark and Callado left. 

Moments later, Cardoza heard a commotion nearby and saw Callado brandishing a pistol. The restaurant owner, Ana Lee, tried to pacify Callado, as he aimed his gun at Cardoza.

Cardoza ran out of the restaurant when he saw Callado fire shots toward his direction.

No one was hit and Cardoza was able to escape unhurt, while responding policemen nabbed Callado.

Cardoza has filed charges of attempted murder and illegal possession of firearm against Callado.

The provincial prosecutor’s office though dismissed last Monday the charge of illegal possession of firearm after scene of the crime operatives failed to present the gun seized from Callado. 

But the attempted murder charge was filed with the San Jose regional trial court and the judge allowed Callado to post P120,000 bail last Tuesday.  

The Oriental Mindoro Media Club Inc. condemned the attack – the second against a Mindoro-based journalist. Last year, local tabloid reporter Vergel Bico was gunned down in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.