Radio broadcaster killed in Albay gun attack —media group

A radio broadcaster succumbed to 14 gunshot wounds after still unidentified gunmen attacked him before dawn Friday in Daraga town in Albay province.

In a report, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) identified the victim as Joey Llana, 38, a radio dwZR blocktimer in Legazpi City.

Llana left his home in Barangay Peñafrancia, Daraga town at 4:45 a.m. and was on his way to host his program "Metrobanat" when his assailants waylaid him.

Using calibers .45 and 9mm handguns, the gunmen pumped 14 bullets into the victim's body, the  NUJP report said, citing local radio reports.

A police investigation is ongoing to determine the motive of the crime and the identities of the assailants. 

Meanwhile, Llana's sibling said the victim received death threats days before the murder, according to the NUJP, adding that the broadcaster's death is the 12th media killing under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, the third in Bicol Region and the 185th in the country since 1986.

Palace condemns killing

Malacañang condemned Llana's slay and vowed to pursue justice for him.

“We strongly condemn the killing of radio reporter [Joey] Llana in Daraga, Albay, as yet another infringement on the rights to life and a free press,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

“The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) will be relentless in according justice to this latest victim,” he added. —Jamil Santos with Virgil Lopez/LBG/RSJ/KG, GMA News