Radio broadcaster killed in Palawan

CMFR/PHILIPPINES – A radio broadcaster was shot dead in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan province last 24 January 2011. If the killing is work related, Ortega will be the second journalist killed in the line of duty under the Benigno Aquino III administration. Palawan is a province approximately 592 kilometers south of Manila.

Gerardo “Gerry” Ortega, a broadcaster with Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) dwAR, was at a thrift store when an unidentified man shot him. Ortega, who had just come from his daily program “Ramatak”, was shot in the head.

Joselito Alisuag, the Ortega family’s lawyer, said the broadcaster was a “staunch critic” of illegal mining activities in Palawan. Ortega also reported on alleged corruption in the provincial government in his program.

Online reports said the police immediately apprehended the alleged gunman, a  Marvin Alcaraz. Alisuag said the suspect was new in town and was not known to the victim.

Alisuag told the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility that the killing could only be related to Ortega’s journalistic work. “He did not have any personal enemy, nor does he have any vice,” Alisuag said in Filipino.

Ortega and one of his children, who is also a broadcaster, had also been receiving threats prior to the incident, Alisuag said.

Ortega, a veterinarian, was involved in civic projects including ABS-CBN Foundation’s Bayanijuan. He was also a member of the Provincial Board from 2001 to 2004.

One hundred eighteen journalists/media practitioners have been killed in the line of duty since 1986. Prior to Ortega, there had only been one work-related killing of a journalist in Palawan province. Fernando “Dong” Batul, a radio commentator for the Palawan Broadcasting Corporation (dyPR), was killed on 22 May 2006. The case against the alleged gunman is still being heard at the Puerto Princesa trial court.

6 responses to “Radio broadcaster killed in Palawan”

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3. Index on Censorship » Blog Archive » Philippines: Reporter shot dead says:

   January 27, 2011 at 11:40 pm

   […] “Gerry” Ortega, a broadcaster with Radio Mindanao Network was shot dead on Monday 24 January in Puerto Princesa city. His lawyer has claimed that his murder was related to […]

4. Alleged gunman, 4 others charged for killing of Palawan broadcaster | Center for Media Freedom & Responsibility says:

   February 10, 2011 at 5:45 pm

   […] Palawan broadcaster By cmfr | 10 Feb 2011 CMFR/PHILIPPINES – THE ALLEGED gunman in the killing of a Palawan-based broadcaster faced inquest proceedings last 26 January 2011.  (Palawan province is 592 kilometers south of […]

5. Attacks on journalists continue in the wake of second work-related killing | Center for Media Freedom & Responsibility says:

   February 17, 2011 at 9:39 am

   […] the killing of broadcaster Gerry Ortega in Palawan province last 24 January 2011 (see related story here). Share […]

6. People’s funeral held for slain Palawan broadcaster | The Philippines Life says:

   June 9, 2011 at 1:03 pm

   […] Radio broadcaster killed in Palawan | Center for Media Freedom … […]