Another radioman killed in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines – A radio broadcaster was shot dead by unidentified men in Tagum City, Davao del Norte on Wednesday morning, reports reaching INQUIRER.net said.

The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) – Davao del Norte said over social media that Rogelio “Tata” Butalid of Radyo Nation Tagum was shot at 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday right after his morning program at the radio station.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said Butalid was about to ride his motorcycle when unidentified gunmen attacked him outside their radio station at Sobrecary St. in Tagum City. He sustained seven gunshot wounds.

Before his death, Butalid, who was also a village councilor, tackled a feud within the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (Daneco) in his commentaries.

If investigation shows that he was killed because of his profession, Butalid will be the 22nd journalist killed in the line of duty under the Aquino administration, the Center for Media Freedom & Responsibility (CMFR) posted on Twitter.

His death came hours after a radio reporter named Jonavin Villalba was shot and injured in Iloilo City.

On December 6, radio station supervisor Michael Diaz Milo was killed in Surigao del Sur.  A week before that, Joas Dignos, a hard-hitting radio commentator, was shot dead in Bukidnon.

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