Personal grudge led to shooting of Ilocos radioman – media group

The shooting of a radio commentator in Ilocos Sur was due to a personal squabble, and not work-related, the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) said Wednesday. According to the CMFR’s findings, Eugene “Commander Uno" Paet, a radio commentator of dwRS Commando Radio, figured in an argument with his neighbor that allegedly led to the shooting. Paet was on his way home from work when two men riding tandem on a red Yamaha motorcycle with no plate number shot him twice from behind on Jan. 7. The shooting occurred along the national highway in Bulag Sentro, Bantay town, Ilocos Sur, just a few meters away from the Ilocos Sur provincial police office. Police reports said Paet was able to run away and sought help from residents of a nearby house. The suspects immediately fled the scene. The suspects were armed with cal. 45 pistols as evidenced by the recovered cartridge shells and slug, a National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) statement said. According to the CMFR, Paet had identified his neighbor Mario Paa as his attacker and named him in a statement given to the Philippine National Police station in Bantay town on Jan. 12. Prior to the shooting, the two had an argument after Paa accused Paet of illegally firing guns on New Year’s Eve, CMFR said. Paa had also been in conflict with Paet's nephews. Paet is now in stable condition after undergoing liver surgery at the Metro Vigan Cooperative Hospital, the release added. Paet’s colleagues from the local media ruled out the possibility that the attack was work-related. CMFR said that based on their interviews, dzRS is a pro-government radio station which does not usually feature critical stories. The station is owned by the Singsons, a politically powerful clan in Ilocos Sur which includes Vice Gov. Jeremias Singson, Cong. Eric Singson and Provincial Board Member Ronald Singson. Former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, the clan patriarch, is the current Deputy National Security Adviser. The NUJP earlier quoted Paet’s son, Eugene Jr., as saying that someone wanted to silence his father because he said he could think of no one who bears any personal grudge against him except those that might have been irked from his commentaries in the radio. – Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV