Philippines
Radio broadcaster shotPosted Apr 15 2009
Philippine radio broadcaster Nilo Labares was shot in the back by a gunman March 5 in Cagayan de Oro City.
Labares was rushed to Maria Reyna Hospital. The bullet seriously damaged his kidney and liver. He was out of danger after one of his kidneys was removed.
Labares is a chief reporter as well as an anchor for his news and public affairs program, “DxCC Express,” which is aired by DxCC-Radio Mindanao Network (RMN). The attack allegedly resulted from Labares's reports on illegal gambling activities such as video karera and cockfighting in Cagayan de Oro. Video karera is an illegal virtual horse-race betting game in the Philippines. Labares reported to the police that he had received death threats for almost two weeks.
“He might have earned the ire of the owners of the video karera stations,” DxCC’s news manager Rey Maraunay said.
The head of the Labares Task Force, Colonel Bernard Mendoza, of the Philippine National Police, said at least four men on two motorcycles followed Labares on his way home from the radio station. Two of the four suspects were named by Labares in a sworn statement on March 7. They later voluntarily turned themselves in to the city's police director on March 9.
Since 1986, 78 Philippine journalists and media practitioners have been killed in the line of duty.
More information
- International Freedom of Expression Exchange