A gunman entered Sy’s home in southern General Santos City
and shot him twice in front of his wife and daughter, according to news reports.
The reports said the assailant fled the scene on foot. Sy died at a local
hospital before receiving medical treatment. Local media reported that
investigators recovered two shell casings from a .45-caliber handgun in the
house.
Sy, 53, a freelance photographer, regularly contributed to
the local Sapol News Bulletin
newspaper, among other outlets. John Paul Jubelag, the paper’s publisher, said
Sy may have been murdered in connection to his contribution to a photo report
in January or February on local drug trafficking, but did not offer further
details, according to a
statement by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, a
Manila-based press freedom advocacy group. News accounts did not report any
threats against Sy prior to the attack. But Sy’s colleagues and family members believe
he was killed because of his “vocal stance” against the illegal drug trade in
his area, Tempo reported.
On October 24, authorities from the Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency and Regional Special Investigation and Detection Team arrested
Jerry Intoman as the suspected gunman in the killing, news
reports said. The gunman was linked to the illegal drug trade, the reports
said.