‘Hard-hitting’ radioman gunned down in Ozamis

A “hard-hitting” radio commentator died after being shot by still unidentified assailants in Ozamis city, Misamis Occidental, Thursday morning, police said.

Cosme Diez Maestrado, an anchor at local radio station dxOC, died after suffering 10 bullet wounds to the different parts of the body, Misamis Occidental provincial police director Senior Supt. Archival Macala said.

The shooting occurred a little past 10 a.m. in front of a shopping center along Rizal street.

Maestrado was taken to the Medina Hospital, but he eventually expired, Macala said.

At the crime scene, responding policemen found two motorcycles believed to have been used by the gunmen, he said.

“Baka ‘yung mga binanatan niya, kasi hard-hitting talaga siya,” Macala said, when asked what could be the motive for the anchorman’s killing.

(Maybe those whom he hit on air (were responsible) because he is really hard-hitting.)

Pursuit and follow-up operations are underway to arrest the assailants, he added.

Maestrado survived a previous attempt on his life on November 9, 2011.

A gunman approached and fired on Maestrado’s car as he was driving to office, but the latter managed to lower his seat’s back rest, get his caliber-.45 pistol, and fire back, according to a police report issued that day. John Roson/IDL