Manila: A radio journalist was shot and injured by motorcycle-borne assailants on Thursday evening in southern Philippines' Cagayan de Oro, reports reaching the capital said.
Michael James Licuanan, "James Dacoycoy" to his listeners, was on his way home from work when two suspects riding in tandem shot and injured him around 9.15pm as he was travelling along Capt Vicente Roa street in the city.
Licuanan works as anchorman and chief of reporters of the Bombo Radyo station in Cagayan de Oro City.
A radio report by the RMN radio network said Licuanan was rushed by witnesses to the Northern Mindanao Medical Centre where doctors performed emergency surgery on him.
According to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), the suspects were wearing helmets. The first shot missed Licuanan, but caused him to lose balance and crash his motorcycle.
One of the suspects got off and shot and hit Licuanan in the buttocks as he was trying to flee. The assailants stopped pursuing the victim after the injured Licuanan was able to get the help of personnel manning a nearby fire station.
Licuanan had been airing commentaries and reporting the arrest of a captured suspected drug courier Sammy Yusop by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Bukidnon last week.
NUJP's Rowena Paraan said the group and the local press will not be cowed down by such murder attempts on journalists.
In an interview by Bombo Radyo, Paraan said it was disheartening to note that harassment and killing of journalists continue despite promises by the government of President Benigno Aquino that it would take action to end the attacks.
She said they have reason to believe that the attempt on the life of Licuanan was related to his work as a broadcaster and journalist.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the palace had issued orders for the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct an investigation, identify and capture the suspects.
According to Lacierda the palace strongly condemns the incident.
