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July 21, 2025 – Philippines –
A veteran radio broadcaster in southern Philippines was fatally shot on Monday, highlighting the country’s ongoing struggle with journalist safety. Erwin Labitad Segovia, 63, host of a morning program on Radio WOW FM that focused on social issues and local governance, was gunned down by an unidentified attacker as he returned home from work near his base in the southern region.
According to local police, two assailants followed Segovia on a motorcycle before opening fire, fatally striking him in the head. The attackers fled the scene and remain at large. The incident took place shortly after Segovia ended his live broadcast, emphasising the brazen nature of the attack.
In response, the Philippine Presidential Task Force on Media Security activated a Special Investigation Task Group to pursue the case. Task force executive director Jose Torres Jr. reaffirmed a commitment to uphold media safety and bring the responsible parties to justice.
The killings of journalists remain a persistent issue in the Philippines, which continues to rank near the top of the Committee to Protect Journalists’ Global Impunity Index. In 2024, it was listed ninth globally, underscoring the alarming rate of unsolved murders of media workers.
Press groups and human rights advocates have condemned this attack, reiterating concerns that journalists, especially in provincial and conflict-prone areas, face heightened danger. The murder of Segovia adds to a chilling list of media workers killed in recent years, including radio fixtures targeted during live broadcasts.
As the investigation unfolds, observers warn that without firm accountability and structural reforms, these violent reprisals against the press could further erode media freedom in the Philippines.
References –
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2608858/media
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/radio-journalist-killed-in-southern-philippines
