Media practitioners Teodoro « Tio Dodoy » Escanilla (left) and veteran journalist Gregorio « Loloy » Ybanez (right) were shot dead in separate incidents in Sorsogon and Davao within a week.

Two unidentified gunmen on the night of Wednesday 19 August shot dead radio DZMS anchor Teodoro Escanilla, also known as “Tio Dodoy”, at his home in Barangay Tagdon, Barcelona, Sorsogon.

Investigators said it happened around 11:45 p.m., when the 59-year-old radio broadcaster was entertaining a guest at home. Based on the initial investigation, the assailants gunned him down with a .45 caliber pistol and an M16 rifle. According to the Sorsogon Police Provincial Office, a task force had been formed to resolve the case.

Escanilla anchored the « Parmana ng Lahi » radio program, where he regularly spoke about human rights issues and criticised the military. He also served as chairman of the local Anakpawis political party and as spokesman of the local Karapatan human rights group.

The murder of Escanilla came a day after the shooting of Gregorio Ybañez, columnist in Bagting (ring) sa Katilingban (masses) and president of the Davao del Norte Press and Radio-TV Club, on August 18. If proven work related, the killing of Escanilla will be the 149th case of a journalist killed in the line of duty since 1986, and the 28th under the Aquino administration.