Task group formed for Ordaniza slay case

By CNN Philippines Staff

Updated 22:32 PM PHT Wed, February 17, 2016

http://cnnphilippines.com/regional/2016/02/17/Task-group-Ordaniza-slay-case.html

Met ro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The police created on Wednesday (February 17) a task group to look into the killing of a radio reporter based in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur the day before.

This developed as investigators remained facing a blank wall regarding the identity and motive of the assailant in gunning down Elvis Ordaniza.

Ordaniza, 49, who worked for DXWO, was shot dead Tuesday evening inside his house in Pitogo town by a lone gunman. He sustained two gunshot wounds in the chest from a caliber .45 pistol.

The assailant then fled on foot after the crime, based on an initial investigation.

Provincial director, Senior Supt. Michael Mendoza Nicolas, said that investigators of Task Group Ordaniza were looking at various possible angles behind the murder.

Nicolas said that one possible angle could be related to the fact that the victim was a former communist guerilla. 

Pagadian City-based correspondent Jong Cadion contributed to this report.

Broadcast journalist killed in Zamboanga del Sur

http://cnnphilippines.com/regional/2016/02/17/Broadcast-journalist-Elvis-Ordaniza-killed.html

By Jong Cadion, Pagadian City-based correspondent

Updated 10:36 AM PHT Wed, February 17, 2016

Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur (CNN Philippines) — Authorities are investigating the death of a radio reporter in his house in Pitogo, Zamboanga del Sur on Tuesday night (February 16).

The victim, Elvis Ordaniza, was the first journalist in the country to be murdered this year. He was from DXWO Power 99 FM of Times broadcasting network based in Pagadian City.

Police said the still unidentified gunman used a caliber .45 pistol.

The 49-year-old Ordaniza, a former rebel, had two gunshot wounds in his chest.

The victim was rushed immediately to the nearby hospital by the responding police operatives but was pronounced dead while on their way to the hospital on board the ambulance.

Senior Supt. Michael Mendoza Nicolas, Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Director, ordered a thorough investigation to determine the possible motive of the killing and the identification of the assailant for filing appropriate murder charges.

The Philippine National Police has formed Taskgroup Ordaniza to investigate the shooting incident.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said Ordaniza has been reporting about the problem of illegal drugs and illegal gambling in the town.

NUJP record shows Ordnaniza was the 31^st journalist killed in Aquino administration and with a total of 171 journalists killed since 1986.

Radio broadcaster shot dead in Zambo Sur town

Elvis Ordaniza,

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Feb. 17 (PNA) -– Supt. Michael Nicolas, police provincial director, has ordered the conduct of a thorough probe over the killing of a radio broadcaster in the nearby town of Pitogo, this province.

Nicolas' order is addressed to Chief Insp. Orlyn Leyte, Pitogo police chief, after he received report about the killing of Elvis Ordaniza, 49 of DXWO Power 99 FM of the Times Broadcasting Network based in the city.

Ordaniza was gunned down around 7:10 p.m. Tuesday in Purok Bagong Silang, Barangay Poblacion, Pitogo.

Leyte said initial investigation showed a lone gunman shot Ordaniza while he was preparing food for his family’s dinner.

The gunman, who remained unidentified, fled after the incident.

Leyte said Ordaniza was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Ordaniza, who handles a public affairs program, is known to be critical against illegal gambling activities and proliferation of prohibited drugs in this province. (PNA)

FFC/BNB/TPGJR/HIROHITO D. CADION