Bicol radio commentator gunned down

LEGAZPI CITY ,Philippines  – An unidentified assassin shot dead a broadcaster early yesterday morning in Iriga City.

Chief Superintendent Victor Deona, Camarines Sur police director, said Romeo Olea, a reporter and commentator of radio station dwEB-FM, was on his motorcycle when a gunman riding tandem on another motorcycle shot him in front of the Holy Child Learning Center at Barangay San Jose in Iriga City at 5:50 a.m.

Deona said Olea, 49, who sustained two bullet wounds at the back, died at the Rinconada Medical Center in Iriga City.

Superintendent Ronald Briones, Iriga City police chief, said investigators have recovered two empty 9mm shells at the crime scene.

The victim’s wife Racheal, who works as a civilian employee at the Iriga police station, said follow up operations were being conducted by police to get the killers.

Olea’s killing happened eleven months after the murder of another dwEB reporter, Miguel Belen, who was shot dead at Barangay San Jose Pagaron in Nabua, Camarines Sur on July 9, 2010.

The gunman who was tagged as a communist rebel, was also riding on a motorcycle.

Reports said the killings of media men in Camarines Sur are related to local politics.

Local politicians use some media men, especially radio broadcasters, to provide public service to their constituents.

Some politicians also indirectly use media men to attack their rivals.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) Press Corps condemned the latest killing and urged the police and the National Bureau of Investigation to solve the case and also the other unsolved killings of media men in Bicol, where seven journalists have been killed since 1986.

Aside from Olea and Belen, the other Bicol newsmen that were murdered were: Ronaldo Julian of dzLB in Camarines Sur, Ruel Endrinal of dwRl, Jun Villanueva of dzGB, Dyunyor Joe of dzRC, all from Albay and Nelson Nadera of Masbate.

President Aquino had ordered the PNP to immediately resolve the killings of journalists.

The PNP reported that 39 journalists were killed during the nine-year administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and 28 of these have been resolved.

PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo said the PNP has published a handbook containing safety measures for members of the media.

“The intention is to provide media practitioners with the basic knowledge and practical skills in securing themselves and their family, determining possible threats and improving communications among all concerned including local PNP units,” Bacalzo said. With Cecille Suerte Felipe, AP