Philippines: Second Broadcaster Killed in 24 Hours

Barely 24 hours after a radio commentator was shot dead in Mindanao, another radioman died after being shot in Ilocos Norte in Northern Luzon on Tuesday night.

Radio dzRH reported Wednesday that Joselito Agustin of dzJC Aksyon Radyo Laoag died while undergoing treatment at a hospital at 1:15 a.m. Wednesday.

Agustin, 37, was shot at least four times past 10 p.m. while he was heading home, a local police official said in a radio interview.

”About past 10 p.m., Agustin was on his way home to Bacarra town. At the boundary of Bacarra town and Laoag City, a motorcycle with two men overtook his motorcycle and the back rider shot him at least four times," Laoag City police head Superintendent Sterling Blanco said.

Blanco said they recovered four shells from a cal-.45 pistol. He said Agustin’s nephew, a backrider on the victim’s motorcycle, could not give other details about the suspects.

Citing initial reports reaching him, Blanco said Agustin sustained gunshot wounds on the left side of the body.
 
Agustin was known to his listeners as Aksyon Lito. He left behind two children, the eldest being four years old and the youngest having been baptized only recently.

The dzRH report said Agustin's colleagues suspect his commentaries against corruption in the province may have been a possible motive for the attack.

It added that Ilocos police are already investigating the incident.

Last Monday night, an unidentified assailant shot dead radio anchor Desidario Camangyan who was hosting an amateur singing contest in Manay town in Davao Oriental province at around 10:30 p.m.