Radio anchor shot dead in Ozamiz City

MANILA, Philippines - A hard-hitting broadcaster was killed after he was shot 10 times by still unidentified men in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental yesterday morning.

Reports reaching Camp Crame identified the victim as Cosme Diez Maestrado, anchor of dxOC, an affiliate station of the dzXL-Radio Mindanao Network in Ozamiz City.

Ozamiz City police said the shooting took place at around 10 a.m. yesterday in front of the Quality Shopping Center on Rizal Street.

Maestrado was rushed to Medina Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Police recovered at the crime scene two motorcycles believed to be the getaway vehicles of the gunmen.

Ozamiz City police are now conducting pursuit operation against the suspects.

Last Aug. 20, another media man, Teodoro Escanilla, 59, broadcaster at local radio station dzMS, was shot dead by still two unidentified assailants in Sorsogon.

Escanilla was also chairman of Anakpawis party and spokesman for human rights group Karapatan in the province.

He was shot inside his residential compound in Barangay Tadon.

Empty shells of caliber .45 pistol and M16 rifle were recovered at the scene.