A prominent journalist has been shot dead in the Philippines, local media report. The victim is Jess Malabanan, who contributed to a Pulitzer Prize-winning series of reports about the tough fight against drugs in the Philippines.
According to his wife, Malabanan was shot in the head by unknown men. The police say to ABS CBN News that the journalist was at home watching TV at the time and that the two perpetrators opened fire from outside the house. The perpetrators of the shooting incident in the town of Calbayog on the island of Samar are on the run. No motive is known yet.
Experienced reporter
Fellow journalists speak of a cowardly act and call on the authorities to take action. “Jess was an experienced reporter and worked for many media companies,” writes the Pampanga Press Club, of which the victim was a member. “He had proven himself as a dedicated journalist.”
The Philippines is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists. More than 20 have been killed since President Duterte came to power in 2016. Under his presidency, many thousands of people were killed who were suspected of participating in drug trafficking.
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