ANOTHER PHILIPPINE JOURNALIST GUNNED DOWN ON CHRISTMAS EVE
December 26th 2007 01:57
Philippine radio program host and well-known critic of local officials, Ferdinand Lintuan, was gunned down on the morning of December 24, just after leaving his radio station, DXGO Radio, in Davao City, on the southern island of Mindanao.
According to Reporters Without Borders, station manager Raul Antopuesto said he had no doubt that Lintuan was murdered because of his work as a journalist.
He said, "On this Christmas Eve, the Philippine press community has again been hit by a terrible murder. The method used leaves no doubt that it was a targeted killing of a journalist who had criticised local politicians. President Arroyo and the national police chief have a duty to give the local investigators all the resources they need to catch the gunmen and those who put them up to it."
Two men riding a motorcycle and wearing helmets shot Lintuan at close range as he drove away from the radio station in a car with two fellow journalists, Louie Ceniza and Edgar Banzon. Hit in the head, he died instantly.
Aged 51 and the father of four, Lintuan had often criticised local politicians, including the Davao City government, on the air. He had, in particular, accused local officials of corruption in connection with the People's Park, a local development project which he called the Crocodiles' Park.
Lintuan was the first president of the Davao Association of Sports Journalists.
National police chief Alevin Razon said he has ordered an investigation and the creation of a special Batman task force.
Presidential adviser Jesus Dureza said, “The government will not allow this criminal act to go unpunished."
- From MediaBlab
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