Journalist killed in Laguna; ninth in RP this year

CABUYAO, Laguna — A newspaper reporter was shot dead by two motorcycle-riding men Sunday night, police said, bringing to nine the number of journalists killed in the country this year.

Robert "Roby" Ramos, a reporter for the weekly local tabloid Katapat, was waiting for a ride home in front of a public market in Barangay Banlic in Calamba City at around 7:30 p.m. when suspects fired upon him at close range, according to Cabuyao police chief Superintendent Remilo Bamba.

Bamba said Ramos, a resident of Barangay San Juan also in Calamba City, died on the spot from two gunshot wounds — one to his cheek, another to his neck.

Manila-based radio dzRH quoted Ruby Garcia, Ramos’ colleague, as saying he had exposed various illegal activities, including gambling and prostitution, in the province.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Arturo Lomibao has ordered regional police director Chief Superintendent Jesus Versoza to conduct a thorough investigation into the killing.

Versoza, in turn, has created a special task force for this purpose.

Based on the autopsy performed by medico-legal officers of the Southern Luzon police, Versoza said the presence of powder burns at the entry of Ramos’ gunshot wounds indicated that he was shot at close range.

"A deformed slug embedded in the skull of the victim was also recovered by our medico-legal team," Versoza said.

The caliber of the gun used by the suspects was not mentioned in the medico-legal report although Bamba said it was a caliber .38. Another report said it was a 9-mm. pistol.

The killing of the 39-year-old Ramos came less than three days after a radio commentator in Sorsogon City was murdered.

Ricardo "Ding" Uy of dzRS-AM was gunned down on the steps of his home in Barangay Basud in the west district Friday morning.

"While the NUJP is still trying to determine the circumstances behind Ramos’ killing — whether it was related to his job as a journalist, for example — we must point out that his murder underscores the continuing danger being faced by journalists in the Philippines, particularly those in the provinces, where most of the killings of journalists take place," the National Union of Journalists said in a statement.

The latest killing brought to 72 the number of reporters slain since 1986 and the 35th since 2001, it said.

The NUJP urged the administration to take immediate steps to erase the Philippines’ image as the most dangerous place for journalists, next to war-torn Iraq.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists has described the Philippines as the world’s "most murderous" country for reporters.

According to Police Superintendent Flamiano Baltazar, deputy director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Region 4 (CIDG-4), Ramos and a colleague had a verbal tussle with traders selling pirated video and audio compact discs last Nov. 15 at Pinky’s market, where he was shot dead. It wasn’t clear what they argued about.

The following day, Nov. 16, operatives of the Optical Media Board reportedly conducted an operation there, leading to the confiscation of some P4 million worth of pirated materials.

However, Bamba said they have no immediate suspect or motive in the murder. — Arnell Ozaeta, Cesar Ramirez, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Ed Amoroso, Artemio Dumlao, AP, AFP