23 February 2009
Ernie Rollin
Shooting
Misamis Occidental broadcaster Ernie Rollin was shot dead early morning in Oroquieta city while on his way to work in a radio station.
His live-in partner Ligaya, who was with him when the incident happened, told radio DxSY-AM, the shooting occurred around 5:30am at a gas station in barangay Talic.
It is where Rollin usually leaves his motorcycle before taking public transport for a 45-minute travel here.
The couple lives in Transville, a provincial government housing project.
Ligaya related that while Rollin was placing his motorcycle at a corner of the gas station, two motorcycle-riding men went near him. Several moments after, she said she heard three gunshots.
"I was not expecting it was Ernie who was targeted," she said, while still baffled about the incident.
When she checked on Rollin, she said she discovered he fell to the ground face down. Hence, she rushed to him from a nearby waiting shed where she earlier waited.
"At that time, I did not immediately notice he was bloodied," she recalled.
When she tried to assist Rollin to stand up, a man suddenly prevented her; and then pumped a bullet on his nape.
The two men, whom Ligaya said were wearing bonnets, then fled while she was left to attend to Rollin.
The local chapter of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) immediately condemned "the brutality."
Rollin, in his mid-40s, is known for hard-hitting commentaries.
