Broadcaster shot dead in Davao Oriental - police

A broadcaster from southern Philippines was shot dead late Monday night in Davao Oriental by a still unidentified assailant, a police official on Tuesday said, adding they are investigating the possible motive for the attack. The victim was identified as Desidario Camangyan, 52, a Mati City resident and a radio anchor of the Kalayaan Broadcasting Network-owned "Sunrise FM (91.5 FM)." Camangyan became the 138th journalist to be killed since democracy was restored in the Philippines in 1986. Senior Superintendent Querubin Manalang, public information officer of the Davao Regional Police, said the shooting happened during a singing contest in Brgy. Old Macopa in Manay town around 10:30 p.m. Monday. Camangyan was the event's master of ceremonies (emcee) and was waiting on stage when the armed assailant approached him and shot him at close range. The bullet hit the lower right ear of the victim, causing his instantaneous death. "Paupo na raw iyong victim pagkatapos mag-emcee, tapos dumaan sa likod niya yung assassin at binaril siya nang malapitan," said Manalang. [He was about to sit on the side of the stage when the attacker appeared from behind and shot him.] "So far wala pang lumalabas [na witness] kase madilim dun sa pinangyarihan ng insidente at maingay kaya wala masyadong nakapansin," he said. (A witness has yet to come forward. The crime scene was dark and noisy at the time of the attack, and people around did not even notice the shooting.) The local police have already created Special Investigation Task Group ‘Camangyan’ led by Senior Superintendent Jorge Corpuz to investigate the matter. Manalang said they have yet to determine the motive for the killing and vowed to "focus on the investigation of this incident." The killing happened around half a month before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo leaves office. Manalang's death raised to 105 the number of journalists killed under her nine-year administration. — with Mark Merueñas/LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV