N. Samar broadcaster's death may be work-related - police

published December 04, 2008 in BusinessWorld and GMANews.tv

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Unidentified gunmen shot dead Tuesday night a radio broadcaster in San Roque town in Northern Samar province.

Authorities identified the fatality as Leo Mila, 35, of Radyo Natin. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds.

Inspector Amir Lagrimas said the attack may have been work-related. "He was a hard-hitting commentator. That could be a reason why he was killed." He hosted a daily program called Himig Waraynon.

Mr. Mila was the first media practitioner to be killed in Northern Samar and the second for Eastern Visayas.

Ramon "Monching" Noblejas was killed by an unidentified lone assailant inside the compound of radio station dyVL in this city, in October 1987. The case has not been solved.

Mr. Mila was shot beside his motorcycle inside the compound of Radyo Natin, an affiliate of Manila Broadcasting Co., around 6 p.m. The station is in Barangay Zone 3, more than a kilometer from the town proper of San Roque.

Alice Cagro, station manager of Radyo Natin-San Roque, said two women, who were within the premises, heard a series of gunshot near the gate of the compound. She identified the women as Maricel Pedernales and Ediza Balangkit.

"The two [out of fear] only went out to see what happened 30 minutes after they heard the last gunshot," she said. — Sarwell Q. Meniano, BusinessWorld