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Alert

Radio journalist shot, in critical condition

(CMFR/IFEX) - On 6 May 2006, a local radio announcer was shot by unidentified men in Naga City, located 377 kilometers south of Manila.

Paul Manaog, president of the Camarines Sur Capitol Press Association and a radio journalist for local radio station dwLL, was shot at five times and hit thrice while walking with his wife, Rowena, along Magsaysay Avenue. The radio station is owned by the family of Luis Villafuerte, a representative of the political party Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino for Camarines Sur.

According to his wife, Manaog is still alive but in critical condition. He was rushed to the nearby Saint John Hospital and later transferred to the Bicol Medical Center.

Rowena said her husband might have been the target of people he had criticised in his radio programme.

Investigation showed that the victim was approached by five unidentified men who shot him with 9 mm pistols, as indicated by spent shells found at the scene. Police also found a .45-caliber pistol, and said this could have been accidentally dropped by one of the suspects while fleeing aboard a jeep.

Governor Ray Villafuerte of Camarines Sur said the police have some leads that might enable them to identify the owner of the vehicle used by the suspects. He urged the Philippine National Police to resolve the shooting.

Meanwhile, Bicol region police commander Victor Buco expressed optimism that investigators will be able to solve the crime.

CMFR's database shows that 57 journalists were killed in the line of duty since the restoration of democracy in 1986. Around half of these murders took place during the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo administration.