By DPA
Manila : A Filipino broadcaster was killed Monday in a daring daylight attack by unidentified gunmen in a southern Philippine city, police said.
Ferdie “Batman” Lintuan, a hard-hitting commentator who tackled various topics in his radio show, was the fifth journalist to be killed in the Philippines this year.
Police said Lintuan had just left the compound of local radio station DxGO in Davao City, 990 km south of Manila, when two gunmen approached his car and opened fire.
Two colleagues were with the victim in the car.
“We were on our way out aboard Batman’s car,” said Lucio Ceniza, one of those who were with Lintuan at the time of the attack. “When we got out, we were attacked and he was killed.”
Ceniza, who was unharmed, said he pretended to be dead.
“I was at the front passenger seat,” he said. “The car window beside me was also hit.”
Senior Superintendent Jaime Morente, Davao City police commander, said Lintuan died on the spot when a bullet pierced through his upper right ear and exited from his left ear.
He appealed for witnesses to cooperate with the police investigation.
“We condemn the murder of Lintuan,” said presidential adviser on the peace process Jesus Dureza, who is based in Davao City. “The government will not allow this criminal act to go unpunished.”
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines urged the police to investigate the killing, which is just one of several media deaths that are still unresolved.
Last year, 11 journalists were killed in the Philippines, and most of the cases have not been resolved.