Police: Journo who survived past ambush by playing dead gunned down in Pangasinan

A journalist was shot dead in Villasis, Pangasinan on Tuesday morning, police said.

Authorities identified the victim as Virgilio Maganes, an employee of North Watch and a resident of Barangay San Blas.

Citing a local report, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said the victim was a commentator for radio station dwPR.

An initial investigation showed that Maganes was about to enter his residential compound at 6:45 a.m. when two unidentified suspects, on board a motorcycle, fired shots at him for six times.

The gunmen were able to escape, police said.

Probe is still ongoing to determine the motive of the crime.

The NUJP said Maganes had survived an attempt on his life on November 8, 2016 by playing dead when motorcycle-riding suspects shot him as he rode a tricycle.

The NUJP also said Maganes was the 18th journalist killed under the Duterte administration. — RSJ, GMA News