MALACAÑANG on Friday, July 20, condemned the killing of a radio broadcaster by unidentified assailants in Daraga town in Albay province.
Joey Llana, anchor of radio station dwZR in Legazpi City, was leaving home for work at around 4:45 a.m. Friday when he was shot dead in Daraga's Penafrancia village, according to reports.
Llana was reportedly a hard-hitting radio commentator handling a block-time public affairs program, Metrobanat, at dwZR.
Llana, who received death threats prior to his slay, was shot 14 times with .45 caliber and 9 mm pistols, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said in a statement.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. assured that the Presidential Task Force on Media Security would strive to secure justice for the murder of the Albay radio broadcaster.
"We strongly condemn the killing of radio reporter Joey Llana in Daraga, Albay, as yet another infringement on the rights to life and a free press," Roque said in a statement sent to Palace reporters.
"The Presidential Task Force on Media Security will be relentless in according justice to this latest victim," he added.
The NUJP said Llana was the 12th media personality killed under the watch of President Rodrigo Duterte and the 185th since 1986.
On June 7, Dennis Denora, publisher of Trend and Times in Panabo City and former contributor of Sun.Star Davao, died from a gun attack.
Two media workers, Manuel Lacsama and Jessi Cano, were also killed by unidentified gunmen on June 23 in Cabanatuan City and Marawi City, respectively.
Also last month, former radio reporter Julius Barellano was gunned down in Negros Occidental.
The Philippines ranked 133rd among 180 countries assessed for media freedom, based on the 2018 World Press Freedom Index released by media advocacy group Reporters without Borders.
The Philippines is also the deadliest country for journalists in Asia, the Reporters without Borders noted. (SunStar Philippines)