doctors failed to revive radio broadcaster Solijon (photo by PNP Iligan)
THE CONTINUING CULTURE OF IMPUNITY under the Aquino administration has claimed the life of another mediaman, this time in Iligan City in Mindanao.
An alert issued Friday by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines identified the slain mediaman as Fernando “Nanding” Solijon, 48, of DXLS Love Radio Iligan City.
Solijon was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen at around 10:30 p.m. Thursday night.
Preliminary investigation by local police showed that Solijon—coming from a dinner invitation of a close friend in Purok 1, Buru-un village—was crossing the street toward his parked car when two suspects riding on a motorcycle shot him several times at close range.
Solijon succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds on his forehead, abdomen and shoulder. Bystanders rushed Solijon to a nearby hospital in the city. Solijon however was declared dead on arrival. Police found seven shells and one slug of a .45 caliber pistol at the crime scene.
Local police have yet to determine the motive of the shooting although NUJP Iligan Chapter chair Ronnie Enderes said that Solijon has been receiving death threats since the midterm election campaign period.
Enderes added that witnesses could not give a clear description of the assailants because the incident happened in a dark portion of the street.
residents place a marker on the spot where Solijon fell (photo by Richel V. Umel)
In the same media alert, JB Deveza, NUJP Mindanao Media Safety Office coordinator said Solijon—who anchored “Sandiganan,” which airs every Monday to Friday at 8am—is a known supporter of Iligan City Lone Representative Vicente Belmonte and “had criticized several local politicians on his program, even linking a barangay chairman to illegal drugs (trafficking).”
Belmonte has reportedly offered a Php300,000-bounty to anyone who could give information on the indentity of the suspects.
Solijon is the 19th mediaman killed under the Aquino administration and 5th killed this year alone.