Radio-print journalist killed in Sultan Kudarat

SULTAN KUDARAT --- Two men on a motorcycle shot dead early Monday in President Quirino town a volunteer radio reporter and columnist of a local weekly newspaper.Senior Supt. Raul Supiter, director of the Sultan Kudarat provincial police, said Leodoro Diaz died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds sustained in the attack.Diaz was a volunteer reporter of a broadcast outfit in Cotabato City, the station dxMY of the Radio Mindanao Network and Manila Bulletin broadsheet and Balita tabloid.He was also a columnist of the Sapol tabloid published daily in General Santos City, about three hours away via overland travel from President Quirino, his hometown.Diaz was on his way to Tacurong City with his son and a lady relative from his home in Barangay Katiku, President Quirino when two bikers trailing behind overtook, block his path and shot him with pistols, killing him on the spot.Benjie Caballero, a broadcast journalist based in Tacurong City, said Diaz was a hard-hitting tabloid columnist. We are urging the police to investigate on his murder in broad daylight at a time when Mindanao is under martial law that prohibits non-military and police personnel from carrying guns outside of houses, Caballero, a long time friend of Diaz, told this news outfit.Diaz was the third journalist killed in Sultan Kudarat province in about 15 years.Marlene Esperat, also a columnist of a local newspaper, and radio reporter Amy Corpuz were killed by hired killers one after another during the period.Supiter said personnel of the President Quirino municipal police are still trying to determine the identities of the two men behind the murder of Diaz and their real motive for the attack. Let’s give them enough time to identify the perpetrators of this crime for them to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of law, Supiter said. Image may contain kitchen and indoor sand//scontent.fmnl4-5.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/20622261_1824314740928268_4418164189078710276_n.jpg?oh=f760c2541178a64fafe303df0f747f22:ampoe=59FCC319