Radio employee shot dead

MANILA, Philippines - A driver of a radio station, who moonlighted as a radio stringer in Koronadal City, South Cotabato was shot dead by men on a motorcycle in front of a hospital in the city yesterday morning.

Senior Superintendent Randolph Delfin, director of the South Cotabato provincial police, identified the victim as Romel “Jojo” Palma, 30, an employee of dxMC Bombo Radyo. He suffered four gunshot wounds in the neck and back.

The police initially ruled out the possibility that the attack was work-related since the victim’s designation was driver and he merely filed reports on traffic and the weather.

Delfin said the killing took place at around 5 a.m. on Aguinaldo street in Koronadal City near the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital’s emergency room where his reporter Rey Legario of Bombo Radyo-Koronadal proceeded to gather news.

“If the killing is connected to his job the information will eventually come out. So far we don’t see any connection with his job,” he said.

Delfin also pointed out that he knew almost all city-based reporters of the station and could not recall having been interviewed by Palma.

Scene of the Crime Operatives said Palma suffered gunshot wounds from a caliber .45 handgun.

Legario told police investigators that he had just entered the provincial hospital’s emergency room to gather news when several shots rang out in the parking area.

Witnesses said the suspects, on board a Honda TMX motorcycle, were seen speeding away from the victim’s pickup-type patrol van.

Legario said Palma usually preferred to stay in the radio’s service vehicle while he got reports from the hospital blotter.

Mario Neyra, dxMC chief technician, said it appears that the main target was Palma although they were not aware whether he had been receiving death threats prior to the incident.

Palma was the second media practitioner murdered in Socsargen area since January.

Delfin said investigators are checking information that Palma’s quarrying business could have something to do with the attack. – John Unson, Ramil Bajo, Edith Regalado