Butalib was shot dead by an unidentified gunman at around 9
a.m. while getting on his motorcycle at a busy intersection outside of his
radio station in Tagum town in Davao Del Norte province, according to news
reports. Witnesses cited in the reports said the gunman fled the
scene on a motorcycle driven by an accomplice. Police said they recovered six
shells from a .45 caliber handgun from the crime scene.
Butalib hosted a regular blocktime radio show known as
“Ang Kamatuoran” (The Truth) on 107.9 FM Radyo Natin, on which he
often covered local corruption issues, according to news
accounts. Unidentified colleagues said Butalib regularly received anonymous
death threats, according to news
reports.
Radio blocktime reporters, who lease airtime from a radio
station, are frequently targeted in provincial areas of the Philippines, CPJ
research shows.
Police Chief Inspector Jed Clamor told local journalists
that the killing could also be related to Butalib’s election in October to
councilman of Mankilam village, which was a “hotly contested district
post,” according to news reports. He said police were investigating
whether the journalist’s murder was related to his work.