Broadcaster shot dead

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A radio commentator was shot dead by unidentified men near a public market in Digos City, Davao del Sur yesterday.

Police said Samuel Oliverio, a blocktimer of Radio Ukay in Digos City, died from a gunshot to the head.

Oliverio, 60, was riding his motorcycle with his wife on their way to the market when two men on another motorcycle blocked their path and shot him.

The victim’s wife fell off the motorcycle but was not hit.

Digos police chief Superintendent Querubin Manalang said Oliverio was known to be vocal against illegal drugs and gambling in the city.

Friends and relatives, however, told police investigators that Oliverio did not have known enemies and described the victim as not a hard-hitting radio commentator.

Oliverio worked for a local government unit that paid for his radio airtime.

A fellow radio blocktimer, Marlan Malnegro, was quoted in radio reports as saying he is convinced that a “personal grudge” may have led to the victim’s murder. 

Oliverio was the 28th journalist to be killed under the Aquino administration.

Malacañang condemned the killing and ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to investigate the incident.

“We condemn the killing of radio broadcaster Sammy Oliverio... we note that Mr. Oliverio was a blocktimer airing programs in behalf of the local government unit over Radyo Ukay and other radio stations in Digos City. The PNP has been directed to exert maximum efforts to track the assailants and bring them before the bar of justice,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.

The PNP has formed a special investigation task group to look into the killing of Oliverio.

PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima directed the regional police to ensure the gunmen behind the attack are caught and prosecuted. 

National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) chair Rowena Paraan said police task forces are virtually useless.

“We can almost predict what comes next: police setting up another of those useless task forces that have so far failed to nail any of the masterminds in the 163 media murders before Oliverio’s, and the government vowing to bring his case to justice just as it has failed to do with all the other cases,” Paraan said. Sen. Grace Poe, chairman of the Senate committee on mass media, condemned the killing.

“This mocks our efforts to elevate press freedom in the country and protect our journalists who fearlessly pursue our good,” Poe said in a statement.

“Justice must be swiftly ensured for Sammy Oliverio,” she said.

Poe called on the PNP to provide media professionals a direct line to police authorities in the wake of increasing attacks against journalists.

Poe also asked the PNP to be more open in coordinating with members of the media to speed up the arrest of suspects and the prosecution of cases.

Poe cited the statements of Police Superintendent Henry Libay before a Senate hearing that out of 48 incidents of media killings since 2001, only six were resolved, with convictions. – John Unson, Aurea Calica, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Delon Porcalla, Artemio Dumlao, Christina Mendez