Two Journalists Shot Dead

Two local tabloid columnists were shot dead along Pilot Drive, Barangay Commonwealth, Quezon City at 11 pm Tuesday.

The victims were later identified as Richard Kho and Bonifacio Loreto. According to Kho’s daughter, Richelle Ofelia,  Kho and Loreto had criticized corrupt politicians, which Ofelia believed may have been a reason for the killings, Gma news online reported. In 2009, following the ‘Maguindanao massacre’, the Philippines was ranked the most dangerous place in the world for journalists, the online news reported.

Police said Loreto and Go who were talking in front of a store when two armed men approached them and shot them at close range. Gma news online reported that the victims wrote columns for “Aksyon Ngayon” newspaper. The online news added that the relatives has told radio dzBB that the two victims had no known enemies. The police are currently looking for leads that would establish the motive for the shooting.

As of this year, the Philippines landed “Third Most Dangerous Place for Journalist” according to New York-Based Committee tasked to Protect Journalist, Gma news online reported.

In Cebu City last month, media man Apolinario Arigo, Jr., was hurt after an unidentified assailant shot him in the buttocks, while he was going towards a parking lot outside an establishment in reclamation area.

Sources: Gma news Tv, Gma news Online