Journalist shot dead outside own home in Philippines by motorcycle-riding gunmen: ‘He told me he’d received threats’
- Cresenciano Bunduquin, 50, was killed on Wednesday in Calapan. Colleagues said he’d been thinking of quitting broadcasting to become a chicken farmer
- The killing comes less than a year after another radio personality, Percival Mabasa, was gunned down in Manila as he drove to his studio
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Cresenciano Bunduquin, 50, was killed by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro province, said police Colonel Samuel Delorino.
One of the assailants died after Bunduquin’s son hit the gunmen with his vehicle as they fled the scene of the predawn attack.
“The remaining suspect was able to run off. The hot pursuit operation is still ongoing,” Delorino said.
The archipelago nation is one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists, and the killers often go unpunished.
Radio broadcasters outside the capital were often the target.
Bunduquin hosted a programme on radio station 101.7 DWXR as well as on Facebook, said station manager Jester Joaquin, who described the broadcaster as “hard-hitting” on local issues.
He had been outspoken about a recent oil spill affecting the province, illegal gambling and politics.
Philippine prisons chief charged in killing of radio journalist
“He told me before that he’s receiving threats but he didn’t elaborate,” Joaquin said.
“He mentioned to me that he wanted a change in his line of work, that’s why he put up a chicken farm, because he wants to go quiet.”
Delorino said police were investigating whether Bunduquin had an enemy or a personnel quarrel.
When perpetrators of attacks on media are not held to account … future attacks become more likely
“Bunduquin’s killing further shows that journalists in the Philippines still operate under threat despite our improvement in the press freedom index and the relatively friendlier relations that media has with the current administration,” said Jonathan de Santos, chairman of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.
“When perpetrators of attacks on media are not held to account and victims of these attacks do not get justice, future attacks become more likely.”
