Renante “Rey” Cortes

Radio commentator, was shot dead on July 22 outside radio station, DyRB, in Barangay Mambaling in central Philippines.Cortes was leaving the DyRB radio station at around 9.10am after finishing his program, when a gunman drove past on a motorcycle and shot him in the stomach and arm. Cortes was pronounced dead at around 9:55am after being taken to hospital.

On his program, Cortes was known for his criticism of members of the local elite who instigated tense arguments with local politicians. It is reported that authorities are currently reviewing Cortes’ commentaries to find possible links to his killings.

DyRB admin associate, Nova Banawan, told Rappler that on the day prior to the shooting a man and a woman visted their office to ask for Cortes’ schedule on July 21. The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), said that Cortes survived a previous murder attempt in 2006