Radio man shot dead in Negros Occidental

BACOLOD CITY—A radio blocktimer from Iloilo was gunned down late Monday afternoon by one of the two men on board a motorcycle in EB Magalona town, about 24 km from this city.

Police investigators, however, had yet to establish the motive in the killing of Niel Aranga Jimena, 42, a native of Lapaz District in Iloilo who had moved to Hacienda Teresa, Barangay (village) Alicante in EB Magalona.

Jimena was a blocktimer for the defunct dyRP in Iloilo and dyAG in Cadiz City in Negros Occidental. He was set to start a blocktime program at Radio Mindanao Network-dyRI Iloilo on Tuesday night, according to his friend Larry Trinidad, a reporter of dyHB-RMN Bacolod.

Trinidad said the blocktimer was reportedly an asset for the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and had worked for Dyaryo Iloilo.

EB Magalona police officer-in-charge SPO4 Leonardo Cobing said Jimena was heading north to Bacolod on board his motorcycle about 5:30 p.m. when two men on board another motorcycle chased and fired at him in Hacienda San Jose, Barangay Damgo, EB Magalona.

The chase continued until Jimena’s vehicle fell on its side in Barangay 3 Poblacion, said Cobing.

He said witnesses told the police that Jimena’s motorcycle appeared to have slowed down as he called for help after he was apparently hit.

Jimena suffered five gunshot wounds in the back from a .45-caliber pistol. He was brought to the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City where physicians declared him dead on arrival.

Cobing said this was the second time that Jimena was attacked.

In September 2009, Jimena was shot in the butt near Malago Bridge in Victorias City, Negros Occidental.