Radio broadcaster shot dead in Albay; cops eye work-related motive

Local radio broadcaster Adrian “Golden Boy” Loterte was fatally shot inside his bakery in Daraga, Albay by two unidentified suspects.

In a “24 Oras” report by Jun Veneracion on Tuesday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said they are looking into the possibility that the motive was related to his work as a broadcast journalist.

“Meron pong siguro minsan may tinatamaan sa kaniyang mga sinasabi, that’s one angle that we are looking at—work-related. Of course, we are not ruling out ‘yung personal o business na angle po dito,” P/Colonel Allan Rae Co said, the acting chief of the PNP Public Information Office.

(Perhaps his commentary may have hit a nerve with someone at times, so that’s one angle we are looking at—that it was work-related. Of course, we are not ruling out personal or business motives as well.)

Before the incident, CCTV footage captured two men wearing helmets talking to each other before heading in different directions along the side of the road in Barangay San Roque, Daraga, Albay.

Seconds later, one suspect ran to his companion who was on a motorcycle, and the two immediately fled the scene. As it turned out, they left Loterte inside his bakery bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds.

Authorities recovered eight spent shells from a .45 caliber pistol from the crime scene.

The police has formed a special investigation task group to focus on the case.

“The PNP strongly condemns this senseless and violent act, and we will leave no stone unturned to identify the perpetrator and bring him to justice,” Co said.

Speaking with the police, the victim's wife said her husband had never received any threats prior to the incident.

Loterte had been working in the media industry for two and a half decades.

He was considered by the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS) as a hard-hitting commentator against politicians and businessmen allegedly involved in illegal activities.

“Mayroon siyang mga ibinubulgar doon na ‘yung mga pagkukuha ng… pagta-transport ng mga buhangin. Mayroong mga ilegal… yung pag-transport ng mga panambak,” PTFOMS Executive Director Undersecretary Joe Torres said.

(He was exposing issues regarding the extraction and transport of sand, as well as illegal quarrying activities.)

Loterte is the 12th media worker killed under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. However, the PTFOMS noted that not all killings are necessarily work-related.

“Kung matukoy natin na hindi related sa kaniyang trabaho, kung pinaslang ang isang journalist, magkakaroon yan ng chilling effect sa iba pang kasamahan natin sa media. Bala wala nang mag-uulat nang maayos kung lahat at takot na baka sila ay paslangin,” Torres said.

(Unless we determine that a journalist's murder was unrelated to their work, it will continue to have a chilling effect on our colleagues in the media. No one will report properly anymore if everyone is afraid of being killed.)

The National Press Club and other media organizations have condemned the killing of Loterte and called for justice. —Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/RF, GMA News