MANILA – In a never ending threat facing Philippine journalists, another radio broadcaster was critically wounded by two gunmen riding on a motorcycle in Cagayan de Oro City, in southern Philippines some 750 kilometers south of Manila on Nov. 24, police said.

Michael James Licuanan, a broadcaster of Radyo Bombo, was also riding a motorbike on his way to work for his nightly program when the gunmen riding in tandem fired at the unsuspecting media man but missed.

The assassination attempt on Licuanan came a day after the second anniversary of the infamous Maguindanao massacre that killed 58 people, including 33 members of media in Maguindanao province on Nov. 23, 2009.

Senior Inspector Elmer Robas, station commander of Cogon Police Precinct, said Licuanan panicked upon seeing that he was the target of the gunmen.  Licuanan tried to flee, but his motorcycle skidded in the middle of the road around 9:30 pm.

Licuanan got up and ran for his life, but one of the two assailants chased the broadcaster. The gunman opened fire, hitting the broadcaster in his left buttock. The .45 caliber bullet pierced through his abdomen.

The assailants fled thinking Licuanan was dead.

Passersby rushed Licuanan to the Northern Mindanao Medical Center where he underwent surgery. Doctors said Licuanan has regained conscious, but his condition is being watched carefully.

Robas said that, based on Licuanan’s description, they were able to sketch a likeness of the gunman that could lead in solving the attempted murder.

Police are still trying to establish the motive for why Licuanan became the target of an assassination attempt.
In June of this year, broadcaster Romeo Olea was shot and killed by unidentified assassins in Iriga City some 500 kilometers south of Manila.

Olea was the sixth Filipino journalist slain since President Benigno S. Aquino III came to power on June 30, 2010.