SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — A community radio commentator in Marihatag town, Surigao del Sur, is in critical condition after he was shot several times by still unknown assailants on his way home from his station Wednesday evening.
Julito “Paka-paka” Orillaneda, 35, owner and operator of dxJB FM, was about to disembark from a tricycle when a gunman approached him and shot him several times, hitting him in the head, neck and right arm, police said.
The gunman fled on a motorcycle driven by an accomplice.
Orillaneda was rushed to the nearby Marihatag District Hospital and was later transferred to Butuan City because of the gravity of his condition, said Judith Suarez, station manager of Sure FM in Tandag City.
Based on accounts of fellow journalists in the area,Suarez said Orillaneda remained conscious despite hs injuries.
Colleagues in the local broadcast community described Orillaneda as a “hard-hitting radio commentator” and a staunch critic of Marihatag Mayor Raul Cubil.
Orillaneda is the sixth radio commentator attacked in Surigao del Sur since 2009.
The five others were all killed: Godofredo Linao Jr. in Barobo town on July 27, 2009, Datu Roy Quijada Gallego on October 14, 2011 in Lianga town; Michael Milo on December 8, 2013 in Tandag City; Apolonio Suan, a provincial board member who hosted a radio program over Real FM in Bislig who was shot as he rode his van on July 14, 2016; and Joe Climaco, host of a local TV program hooked to radio stations who was killed on August 25, 2016.
So far, only one suspect, Joel Namoc, who is allegedly behind the killing of Linao, has been arrested.