Broadcaster killed in Mindoro

MANILA, Philippines - Two men on a motorcycle shot and killed a radio broadcaster in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro at around 12:35 p.m. yesterday.

Superintendent Glicerio Cansilao, Calapan City police chief, said Nilo Baculo was riding on his motorcycle when the two unidentified gunmen coming from the opposite direction shot him near his house in Barangay Lalud.

Baculo sustained two gunshot wounds and died on arrival at the Maria Estrella Hospital in Barangay Tawiran.

Cansilao said police are checking Baculo’s media affiliation since he was reportedly connected with local radio station dwIM. However, police information indicated that he was no longer employed there.

In a phone interview, Cansilao said:

“We are still checking on his affiliation. What we heard was he was no longer connected with any media entity for a year now.”

Police have yet to determine the motive for the killing, Cansilao said.

Baculo’s media colleagues described him as a hard-hitting broadcaster.

He had been receiving numerous death threats before he was killed yesterday, they added.

Baculo is the 28th member of media to be killed during the term of President Aquino.

Last May, Richard Najib of dxNN radio was shot dead in Tawi-Tawi.