DWAR
January 24, 2011, in Puerto Princesa City, Philippines

A gunman shot radio talk show host Ortega in the back of the head as the journalist was shopping in a Puerto Princesa City clothing store shortly after his morning broadcast, according to local and international news reports.

Police arrested a suspect near the scene with the help of witnesses, reports said. The suspect – named in local news reports as Marlon de Camata, but also known as Marvin Alcaraz – initially told police that the killing was robbery-related but later said that he and another man, Dennis Aranas, had a contract to kill Ortega for 150,000 pesos (US$3,370).

Police said they traced the murder weapon to a man named Romeo Seratubias, a former employee of a provincial governor whom Ortega had accused of corruption, according to local news reports. Seratubias denied involvement in the shooting and said he had sold the gun, news reports said.

On January 26, Puerto Princesa City police filed charges against de Camata, Aranas, and Seratubias, along with two others accused of helping to prepare for the attack, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Ortega, 47, had received recent death threats from an unknown source, according to The Associated Press. The journalist had criticized local officials accused of corruption and had opposed provincial mining projects, news reports said.

Medium:Radio
Job:Columnist / Commentator
Beats Covered:Business, Corruption, Politics
Gender:Male
Local or Foreign:Local
Freelance:No
Type of Death:Murder
Suspected Source of Fire:Criminal Group, Government Officials
Impunity:Yes
Taken Captive:No
Tortured:No
Threatened:Yes

Disclaimer: © Committee to Protect Journalists. All rights reserved. Articles may be reproduced only with permission from CPJ.

This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.