Police have launched a manhunt for the gunman who shot and wounded a media practitioner along Maharlika Highway in Barangay Morera, Guinobatan, Albay, on Monday, October 20.
The victim, identified as Noel Bellen Samar, 54, of Kadunong ITV and DWIZ Radio, sustained gunshot wounds to the left chest and abdomen. Responders rushed him to a hospital in Legazpi City for treatment.
The Albay Police Provincial Office said Samar was traveling along the highway when an unidentified assailant opened fire before fleeing the scene. Investigators are still determining the motive behind the attack.
Condemning the shooting, Police Regional Office 5 Director Brig. Gen. Nestor Bagaygay Jr. called it “a senseless act of violence against a member of the press.”
Bagaygay formed a special investigation task group “Samar” to focus on tracking down the perpetrator and solving the case.
He vowed to “use all available resources to bring the suspect to justice,” adding that investigators have been ordered to “move swiftly and leave no stone unturned.”
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.