Manila: An ex-correspondent of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the country’s largest daily broadsheet, was shot dead by a motorcycle-riding man in southern Luzon on Monday, police said, adding she was the second journalist killed this year and the 32nd since Presdient Bengingo Aquino became head of state in 2010.
Melinda “Moi” Magsino, 41, died on the spot when shot at close range in the head by one of two motorcycle-riding assassins, outside the house she shared with a partner in Purok 2 village, Balagtas town, Batangas City at past 12 on Monday, said Superintendent Manuel Castillo, Batangas City police chief.
She was shot by a .45-calibre pistol said Castillo, adding the killer, based on eyewitnesses’ accounts, was wearing a sleeveless shirt, and rode at the back of the motorcycle that fled after the shooting incident.
Magsino, who operated a health and herbal clinic with her boyfriend, had entries in her Facebook account that attacked political personalities, said Castillo.
When she was a correspondent of Inquirer, Magsino was critical of former mayor of Sto. Tomas, Batangas Armand Sanchez, who died during an election campaign in 2010.
Magsino was the 218th journalist killed since 1986, after the overthrow of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, which should have put an end to extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.
The Philippines has remained the world’s third country with most number of reporters killed.
