Ilocos radioman survives ambush

VIGAN CITY — A hard-hitting radio commentator, who chairs the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) in Ilocos Sur, escaped death here early yesterday when unidentified car-riding men peppered his van with bullets. But his wife, brother and driver were not as lucky.

Police said Efren Rafanan, who lost to Gov. Deogracias Victor Savellano in the 2001 elections, was on his way to anchor his morning program at radio station dzXE when the armed men overtook his Toyota Revo and started firing with M-16 Armalite rifles.

Killed in the ambush were Rafanan’s wife Evelyn, 48; brother Dennis, 31; and driver Edwin de Ocampo.

Rafanan’s children Revelyn, 22, and Raffy Brian, 15, were also wounded in the attack, with the latter sustaining head injuries. Rafanan was hit in the left shoulder, but has been pronounced out of danger.

Investigators said they found 11 empty M-16 shells at the ambush site in Barangay Ayusan Norte, just a few meters away from the radio station. Newsmen, however, counted 69 bullet holes in Rafanan’s van.

In a statement, LDP secretary-general Agapito Aquino and House Minority Leader Carlos Padilla condemned the ambush, saying it was a "serious blow to the opposition in Ilocos and an assault on democratic politics and press freedom."

Both lawmakers added that the ambush "could be politically motivated."

Rafanan himself believes so. "For me, it’s politics. This is due to what I’ve been exposing in my radio program," he told reporters at the hospital.

Rafanan took a shot at the governorship against Savellano, whom former Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, supported, but lost.

After the elections, Rafanan resumed his broadcasting stint and occasionally aired tirades against the provincial government. He is known by his monicker "Rambo."

Singson, reached by cellular phone, asked the public to wait for the results of the investigation.

He said Rafanan has other political enemies who may have wanted to eliminate him. "Even if we have political differences, I will help him in the investigation," he said.

Rafanan served as three-term provincial board member under Singson’s Bileg party and used to be one of the former governor’s closest allies. They parted ways when Rafanan decided to run against Savellano.

The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) also condemned the attack and asked authorities for a speedy investigation.

"Attacks on mediamen have become alarming," KBP national chairman Cerge Remonde said in a statement. He cited the recent raid by ski mask-wearing gunmen on a radio station in Tandag, Surigao del Sur and the killing of broadcaster Edgar Damalerio almost a year ago.

Senior Superintendent Mario Subagan, Ilocos Sur police director, said a task force, composed of investigators from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the National Bureau of Investigation and the regional police, was formed to look into the ambush.

The task force was created on the behest of first district Rep. Salacnib Baterina, Subagan said.

Police said Rafanan’s group had just come from Manila where they fetched his wife who arrived from Madrid, Spain.

Rafanan reportedly asked to be dropped at the radio station for his 6 a.m. broadcast before his wife and children were brought home in Barangay Tamag.

But as they approached the radio station at about 5:45 a.m., the armed men overtook their Revo and fired a hail of bullets. — With Myds Supnad