Broadcaster shot and killed in Dumaguete

GUNMEN shot and killed a radio reporter in Dumaguete City in Central Visayas yesterday, according to a task force on media security.

The incident comes less than a week after a journalist was shot by unidentified gunmen in Sultan Kudarat in the Mindanao region. The reporter survived the attack.

Radio broadcaster Dindo Generoso was driving on his way to work on Thursday morning when unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle shot and killed him, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security said in a statement, citing a spot report.

“Generoso sustained eight gunshot wounds at different parts of his body, causing his instantaneous death,” the agency said.

Last week, reporter Benjie Caballero survived a shooting incident after doctors removed a bullet from his lungs.

Salvador S. Panelo, the Philippines’ President spokesman, said concerned agencies would investigate Mr. Generoso’s case.

“The president has directed authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and prosecute those behind it,” he said.

Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra in a mobilephone message he would create a team that would investigate the killing.

Mr. Generoso was the 22nd blocktimer — a journalist who buys airtime to broadcast on radio or television — to be killed since 2003.

“Blocktimers have been particularly vulnerable because of their involvement with politicians as a whole,” said Joel S. Egco, undersecretary of the media task force.

“The task force calls on our various media groups and stations, and all media practitioners to take a deeper look into the practice of blocktiming vis-à-vis its inherent dangers,” he added.

The Philippines ranked as the fifth worst country for journalists to work in, according to the 2019 Global Impunity Index of the Committee to Protect Journalists. —