Reward up for arrest of radioman’s killers

BUTUAN CITY , Philippines   â€“ A P450,000  reward will be given to anybody who can give information leading to the arrest of the gunmen who killed Fernando “Nanding” Solijon, a commentator of Love Radio 107.1 FM, last Thursday in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte.

Solijon was waylaid by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Barangay Buru-un. He died from 13 gunshots to the body.

The reward money was raised by the city government of Iligan and the office of Rep. Vicente Belmonte Jr.

Mayor Celso Regencia said of the amount, P150,000 would be provided by the city government while the P300,000 would come from Belmonte’s office. 

Belmonte and Regencia have asked the National Bureau of Investigation office in Iligan City to conduct a deeper probe on Solijon’s killing.

Sen. Grace Poe yesterday condemned the killing of Solijon as she noted that every attack against a journalist is an attack against democracy. 

“The only fitting response is to bring the perpetrators to justice and put an end to this impunity,” said Poe, chair of the Senate committee on mass media.

As this developed, the eight members of the Iloilo City police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team that raided the station of dyOK Aksyon Radyo last week have been relieved from their posts. 

Ordered relieved were Police Officers 1 Michael Binobo, the team leader, and Christopher Castañeda, Rene Diane, Melvin Deypalubos, Ravelo Acosta, El Abastillas, Johven Mark Causing and Amable Asturias.

The eight are now assigned at the Regional Headquarters Support Group of the Police Regional Office 6 at Camp Delgado, Iloilo City.

The SWAT men reportedly stormed the radio station purportedly looking for two suspects in a stabbing incident, whom they claimed took refuge at the firm’s office.

Aksyon Radyo management complained that the SWAT operatives conducted an illegal search and ordered the radio personnel to remove their clothes. – With Christina Mendez, Jennifer Rendon