Philippines
Radio journalist seriously injured by gunmenPosted Nov 30 2011
A Philippine radio journalist was seriously injured after being shot by two
gunmen on motorcycles on Nov. 24. The brutal attack might be related to
his work as a journalist, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
The two unidentified assailants wearing full-face helmets shot Michael
James Licuanan, a reporter for Bombo Radyo in Cagayan de Oro City,
while he was driving home on a motorbike from his evening commentary
program. He then escaped and ran to a nearby fire station to seek help.
He was critically wounded and is now in stable condition at an undisclosed
hospital, according an article from the Inquirer News.
The National Union of the Philippines said it was “most likely that the
motive of the attack against Licuanan was work-related, but as to who
ordered it remained unclear,” according to the Inquirer News article. The
Inquirer article also noted that Celso Maldecir, Bombo Radyo Cagayan
de Oro City station manager, said Licuanan had been commenting
and reporting on the arrest of one Sammy Yusop by Phillipine Drug
Enforcement Agency (Pdea) agents. Licuanan’s colleagues believed that
other issues might have also led to the shooting.
This is the ninth journalist attacked in the Philippines this year, according
to the Inquirer News.
CPJ research showed that at least 36 Philippine journalists were killed
since January 2009 because of their occupations. Other murders are still
under investigation.