'Fearless commentator' Fernando Solijon was known for being critical of alleged corruption and rising crime
A popular radio commentator known for being critical of alleged corruption and rising crime in a southern Philippine city has been killed by a gunman, police say.
Fernando Solijon of DXLS Love Radio was shot multiple times late on Thursday as he was getting into his car after drinking with friends, said the Iligan City police chief Crestito Rey Gonzalodo.
The gunman fled on the back of a motorcycle driven by another man, Gonzalodo said. Solijon, 48, died on his way to hospital.
If police investigations confirm the commentator was targeted because of his work, the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines said he would be the 159th journalist so killed in the country since the fall of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. Most of these murder cases remain unsolved.
Solijon's wife, Melly, said he had received numerous telephone and text message threats.
Gonzalodo described Solijon – who had criticised local politicians on his programme and linked a village chief to the illegal drugs trade – as a "fearless radio commentator" but would not speculate on political motives for his murder.
The radio station manager Rudy Catubay said Solijon had worked for the station for seven years and described the killing as "work-related". Reported by guardian.co.uk 16 hours ago.
A popular radio commentator known for being critical of alleged corruption and rising crime in a southern Philippine city has been killed by a gunman, police say.
Fernando Solijon of DXLS Love Radio was shot multiple times late on Thursday as he was getting into his car after drinking with friends, said the Iligan City police chief Crestito Rey Gonzalodo.
The gunman fled on the back of a motorcycle driven by another man, Gonzalodo said. Solijon, 48, died on his way to hospital.
If police investigations confirm the commentator was targeted because of his work, the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines said he would be the 159th journalist so killed in the country since the fall of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. Most of these murder cases remain unsolved.
Solijon's wife, Melly, said he had received numerous telephone and text message threats.
Gonzalodo described Solijon – who had criticised local politicians on his programme and linked a village chief to the illegal drugs trade – as a "fearless radio commentator" but would not speculate on political motives for his murder.
The radio station manager Rudy Catubay said Solijon had worked for the station for seven years and described the killing as "work-related". Reported by guardian.co.uk 16 hours ago.