Monday, August 09, 2004 Radioman shot in GenSan, critically hurt By Rex C. Otero
DAVAO CITY -- A radio journalist was in critical condition Sunday after being shot earlier in the day reportedly near the home of world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao in Barangay Labangal, General Santos City.
Jun Ilarde Abayon, who works for GMA radio in General Santos, suffered a lone gunshot wound in the head from a .45 caliber handgun. He is being treated at the General Santos City Doctors' Hospital.
It was not immediately known who shot Abayon, a native of Polomolok, South Cotabato, and what prompted the attack, which took place around 4 a.m.
Investigators said it was too early to say if the attack was related to Abayon's work as a journalist, adding that they were searching for the suspected gunman, who fled after the attack.
Abayon was just the latest journalist to be attacked in the country, where unlicensed firearms proliferate and where local politicians employ armed bodyguards.
In Bombo Radyo's "Good Morning Philippines" program aired Sunday morning, the radio station reported that the General Santos City Police Office under its director Sr. Supt. Willie Dangane is now investigating the shooting incident.
A few hours before shooting, Abayon attended an activity of the Guardian Brotherhood Inc. at the Sydney Hotel located near City Hall.
Dangane, who also attended the affair, said Abayon left the place together with Pacquiao after the affair.
Dangane and Pacquiao are members of the brotherhood.
The police officer said he was surprised to hear that Abayan was shot when informed of what happened around 4 a.m.
Three have been killed so far this year in a series of violent attacks targetting journalists, the latest of whom was newspaper and radio reporter Arnel Manalo who was shot dead in Batangas province, south of Manila, last week.
Crusading radio commentator Rogelio Mariano was killed on July 31 after completing a broadcast over Radyo Natin-Radio Aksyon.
Mariano has been highly critical of local politicians in the north whom he had accused of protecting gambling syndicates.
Last month, a radio journalist was also shot dead in General Santos, also because of his work.
Meanwhile, unknown gunmen last week also opened fire on three journalists in Cebu City.
They survived the attack after returning fire.
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said 43 journalists have been killed in the Philippines since democracy was restored in 1986, making the country one of the world's most dangerous places for mediamen.
No one has been prosecuted for any of the murders, the CPJ said.
The attacks prompted the national police last week to issue licenses to carry firearms to journalists under threat, but it was unclear whether the Cebu reporters had permits.
"We are shocked at the regularity of these deadly attacks on Filipino journalists," said CPJ executive director Ann Cooper.
"Authorities have a grave responsibility to carry out full investigations of these violent acts against the press, to find those responsible and to enforce the law." With AFP
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