Saturday, January 21, 2006
Part-time broadcaster shot dead in Pagadian
By Al Jacinto
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Still unidentified gunmen shot dead a freelance broadcaster in a daring broad daylight attack Friday in the southern province of Zamboanga del Sur.
Rolly Canete was on his way to the Provincial Capitol office when the assailants shot him shortly before 9 a.m. in Cawit village in Pagadian City, his colleague Allan Molde said.
The gunmen fled on motorcycles after the killing, witnesses said.
Molde said the broadcaster was with his son on a motorcycle when the gunmen attacked Canete. His son, who was driving the motorcycle, was unhurt.
"Rolly was killed, and people near the area claimed they heard at least three gunshots," Molde said.
He said Canete, who is in his 60's, was also working as one of Zamboanga Del Sur Governor Aurora Cerilles's spokespersons. He said the police, is still investigating the motive behind the killing.
"We still don't know why he was killed," Molde said.
Rudy Dagumo, news director of Smile Radio in Pagadian City, said Cañete was a blocktimer in local radio stations dxPR and Radio Bagting, which is owned by Governor Cerilles.
Cañete is the first journalist killed this year in Mindanao.
The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines said 10 journalists were killed last year. And in 2004, it said, 13 journalists were also murdered, bringing the total of those slain to 73 since democracy was restored in 1986.
The Philippines now ranks second to Iraq in the list of deadliest countries for journalists in 2005, according to Reporters Without Borders.
Police also said Friday that it has arrested the chief suspect in the killing in October 2004 of wealthy Filipino-Chinese businessman Alexander Louie Chan in Pagadian City.
Provincial Police Chief Karib Muammil said they arrested Gerry Laride, a notorious gun-for-hire, in a raid in the village of Napulan early Friday. "He is the main suspect in the killing of Mr. Chan," Muammil said.
Chan, 28, whose family owned a chain of restaurants and pharmacies in the province, was gunned down inside the Alliance Church in downtown Pagadian City. (Sun.Star Zamboanga/Sunnex)
(January 21, 2006 issue)
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