Incident

Broadcaster shot dead

Cause of death

Shooting

Details

A radio broadcaster and Barangay (village) chairman in Davao City was shot dead by still unidentified gunmen in Bgy. Lacson, Calinan District last Sunday (Apr. 8).

Ruther Elat said he and Aldion Layao, radio blocktimer and chairman of Bgy. Lacson, were on their way home from the fiesta celebration in a nearby area at around 9:30 p.m. when two men onboard a motorcycle drove beside their car and fired shots at them.

Elat told police the assailants fired three shots at Layao, who succumbed to two gunshot wounds. He was declared dead on arrival at the Robillo Medical Clinic. In an interview, Davao City police director Senior Supt. Ronald Dela Rosa said they are looking into politics as the prime motive in the killing. Layao was reportedly planning to run in next year’s election. The police also said that Layao had had some run-ins with his barangay councilors. Dela Rosa however said they are also not discounting other motives. The police recovered from the crime scene three empty shells from a .45 caliber pistol. Regional police director Chief Supt. Jaime Morente has ordered Dela Rosa to create a task force, composed of the local police, PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), to investigate Layao’s killing and identify the suspects. Before entering politics, Layao was formerly employed by GMA Super Radyo. He resigned from said radio station after he became the barangay chairman but Layao continued his media work as a blocktimer for Super Radyo and dxRP.

Jeffrey Tupas, NUJP Director and desk editor for TV5 Davao, said Layao was known to be "associated" with the Nograleses, a well-known political family in the area. He also used to anchor the TV program of Prospero Nograles, former House Speaker and representative of the first district of Davao City.