Radioman killed in Tagum City shooting — Davao media group

Published December 11, 2013 10:48am

(Updated 11:45 a.m.) A radio broadcaster in Davao del Norte was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Tagum City Wednesday morning.

Tata Butalid of Radyo Natin was shot in front of Leonardia Building in Sobrecarey, Tagum City, where his station is holding office, Pamela Perales of Davao del Norte Press Club told GMA News Online in a phone interview.

She said the shooting incident happened around 9 to 9:10 a.m. when Butalid stepped out of the building after his radio program that aired from 8 to 9 a.m.

“Nakasakay ako ng pedicab papunta sa isang press conference nung makita na may pinagkakaguluhan yung mga tao. Nakita namin na may patay. Nung itinatanong ko kung sino yun, sinabi na si Tata,” she said.

In a separate phone interview, Gregorio Ybañez, president of the press club, said he received information that Butalid sustained two gunshot wounds.

He believed the killing was related to Butalid's work as a radio broadcaster as the latter had been receiving threats against his life for sometime now.

Butalid was also a barangay councilor in Mankilam, Tagum City.

Based on the list of Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, 139 journalists or media workers have been killed in line of duty since 1986.

Human Rights Watch said that as many as 24 journalists have been murdered since President Benigno Aquino III took office in June 2010.

The latest were radio dxGT blocktimer Joas Dignos who was gunned down in Valencia City in Bukidnon last Nov. 29 and Michael Diaz Milo, host of a daily radio show and a program director of DXFM radio (PRIME Radio FM), who was shot dead on December 6.

An international media watchdog group, Reporters Without Borders, earlier called on the Philippine government to take “preemptive action against media killings. — Amita Legaspi /LBG/RSJ, GMA News

Tags: mediakillings, extrajudicialkillings, mediakillingsdavaodelnorte, tatabutalid