Radio anchorman survives ambush

MANILA, Philippines - A broadcaster in Ozamiz City escaped an attempt to kill him after he engaged the assailants in a shootout yesterday.

Military and police authorities said Cosme Maestrado, an anchorman-commentator of radio station dzOC, was on his way to his early morning radio show when five unidentified armed men on motorcycles fired at him.

Maestrado was driving his car when the suspects waylaid him at the corner of Maningcol Highway and Bacolod street in Barangay Gango at about 4:15 a.m.

Chief Superintendent Jufel Adriatico, Northern Mindanao Police director, said he has assigned two uniformed policemen as security for the 42-year-old Maestrado.

“For the time being, two PNP escorts from Ozamiz City police were detailed as security escorts of the victim,” he said.

“The incident shattered his left window but the suspect missed his target as he was able to lay down his back rest and was able to return fire using .45 pistol.”

Adriatico has formed Special Investigation Task Group Cosme to focus on the investigation of the case.

Adriatico also set up checkpoints to prevent similar attacks.

“I also instructed local police to exert efforts to obtain witnesses who could identify the attackers for their immediate arrest,” he said.

“The victim was invited to the police station, but wanted to proceed to radio station to go on with his scheduled morning program.”

Two policemen escorted Maestrado to his morning program after which he proceeded to the police station to narrate the incident, Adriatico said.

Ozamiz City police are now investigating the incident.

Maestrado is a vocal critic of the putting up of a private resort in the heart of the Malindang Forest Reserve.

For several months now, he has been lambasting over his radio program moves in the House of Representatives for the conversion of Mt. Malindang, a declared national forest reserve, into an alienable and disposable land.

Maestrado has also been hitting at police officials for the alleged issuance of permit to carry firearms to dozens of civilian bodyguards of Misamis Occidental Rep. Leo Ocampos.