Radio broadcaster gunned down in Albay on his way to work

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 20) — A local radio broadcaster was gunned down and killed in Barangay Peñafrancia, Daraga in Albay on Friday, police said.

Joey Llana, who left his garage at 4:45 a.m., was on his way to his show in DWZR 828 khz Zoom Radio Legazpi, when an unidentified gunman shot him.

Local police said Llana sustained multiple gunshots and was declared dead at 6:05 a.m

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said Llana is the thirteenth journalist to be killed since President Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016. He is the fifth journalist reported killed this year, following Edmund Sestoso, Carlos Matas, Dennis Denora, and Manuel Lacsamana.

Senator Sonny Angara urged authorities to conduct an immediate investigation on the broadcaster's killing.

"This violence against a practicing journalist deserves no less than condemnation, as it has no place in a civilized society like ours... We cannot allow fear and impunity to reign in a democratic society," he said in a statement.

Senator Grace Poe shared the same sentiment.

"The increasing number of killings of journalists and the slow resolution of cases embolden those who carry out the attacks against the members of the media," she said in a statement.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Duterte administration condemns the killing of the radio reporter as it is an infringement on the right to free press.

"The Presidential Task Force on Media Security will be relentless in according justice to this latest victim," he said.

The NUJP slammed the government for allowing a culture of impunity.

"If proven to be related to his work, his death would be the 13th media killing under President Rodrigo Duterte," NUJP said in a statement.

International media watchdog Reporters Without Borders condemned the latest killing as a serious violation of press freedom.

"The Philippines, which is one of the most dangerous countries for journalists in Asia, must do everything possible to effectively combat violence against the media and impunity for this violence," it said in a statement.