New York, April 29, 2003—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is investigating a news report that radio journalist John Villanueva was shot dead after being ambushed yesterday while riding his motorcycle. Villanueva was an announcer for the station DZGB in Legaspi City, south of the capital, Manila, according to the Agence France-Presse. The motive for the killing is unknown.
In an unrelated incident, radio announcer Jun Pala was attacked in the southern city of Davao earlier today, according to press reports. At 9:30 a.m., five men opened fire on Pala’s taxi, wounding him in the buttocks. He was immediately rushed to a hospital. CPJ is investigating whether the attack was related to his journalism.
