An outspoken radio broadcaster in the Philippines was gunned down, worsening the countryÂ’s record as one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists. Joas Dignos, who commented on local issues in his weekday show Bombardier on DXGT radio, was shot in the head by men on motorcycle in Valencia City on Mindanao late on Friday.Dignos was known for his fiery comments about city officials, radio station personnel said. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said that Dignos was previously the target of death threats and had even stopped his live broadcasts, using recorded commentary instead due to safety concerns. In June, a grenade was thrown at the DXGT radio station as one of DignosÂ’s commentaries was being aired.
Human Rights Watch said that as many as 24 journalists have been killed since President Benigno Aquino took office in 2010 in spite of his pledge to fight such abuse.