DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 11, 2013) – Motorcycle gunmen on Wednesday murdered a radio broadcaster in Tagum City in southern Philippines and media groups condemned the continued attacks on members of the media in the country.
The 46-year old Rogelio Butalid, who worked for Radyo Natin, was shot outside his studio along Sobrecary Street. Butalid, who is also a village council member, was about to get his motorcycle when gunmen attacked him.
The motive of the attack on the broadcaster is still unknown and the media watch dog National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said Butalid was the third journalist killed during the past two weeks.
The Davao del Norte Press and Radio-TV Club condemned the killing.
Just recently, Michael Milo, of radio station Prime FM in Tandag City and Joas Dignos, a radio commentator, were also killed by gunmen in southern Philippines. A third radio man, Jhonavin Villalba, 43, of dyOK Aksyon Radyo in Iloilo survived, but is wounded in a gun attack.
The NUJP said 19 journalists had been killed since President Benigno Aquino assumed the presidency in 2010 and the string of attacks and murder continue unabated in the country. (With a report from Cesar Lanos)
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