Romeo Olea

Filipino radio commentator Romeo Olea, 49, died after receiving two shots to the back as he rode his motorcycle to work around 5:30 a.m. on 13 June 2011.[5] The ambush occurred along Olea’s typical path to work near the Holy Child Learning Center, two empty 9mm shells were recovered from the scene.[6]

Olea was employed at DWEB-FM in Nabua, Camarines Sur, where he hosted his daily broadcast “Anything Goes,” on which he had been known to provide commentary on politics and current affairs, as well as discussing accusations of corruption.[2][5]

While it remains unclear as to who committed the crime, senior police official, Victor Deona, said it was possible Olea’s murder could have been related to his work.[1] The motive for Olea’s murder remains unconfirmed.[1]

In 2011, the Committee to Protect Journalists ranked the Philippines third on its Impunity Index, regarding it as one of the worst countries not only in terms of the number of journalists murdered regularly, but also by the ability of the government to solve the related crimes.[2] Iraq was ranked first and Somalia, second.[2]

On July 9, 2010, part-time radio-announcer, Miguel Belena, sustained seven gunshots from two motorcycle-riding attackers on his way home; he died a month later at a local hospital.[4] The motorcycle assailants who killed Belena have since been identified as Eric Vargas, and Gina Bagacina, an alleged member of the New People’s Army (NPA).[4] Olea’s murderers have yet to be identified.

Olea’s wife, Raquel, said in an interview with Agence-France Presse, that her husband had, on occasion, received death threats.[1] One of Olea’s co-workers at DWEB, Benny Decena, informed the Inquirer that Olea told him, prior to the murder, he had been receiving text messages containing threats.[7] It remains unclear as to who the messages came from, or what information they actually contained. Decena also said Olea had a premonition regarding his possible fate, which caused him to start carrying a gun.[7]

According to DWEB’s acting assistant manager, Jing Florece, Olea had been discussing issues regarding a well-known political clan in Iriga, the Alfelor family, on his broadcast.[4] Florece added that, most recently, Olea had been addressing a particular incident that occurred during a basketball tournament in the city; moreover, he said Olea came across a video clip from the game which captured a heated exchange between an unknown person and the mayor of Iriga City, Madelaine Alfelor Gazmen.[4] It has been reported Gazmen ordered the game to be stopped as her favorite team was losing, which resulted in a fight between the teams.[4]

In July 2009, Miguel Belen, a commentator for DWEB was killed.

An active group of Filipino free press advocates, the Burgos Media Center, named in memory of Joe Burgos, a press freedom-fighter, stated that it will implement a program in an effort to better inform students about the issues surrounding free press.[3] The center’s spokesman, Marc Joseph Alejo, said the purpose of the plan is to challenge the Aquino administration to make the Philippines safer for journalists.[3]

At the same time, the group admonished the government for the lack of progress regarding the passing of the Freedom of Information Bill, an initiative to fight corruption through allowing citizens to access crucial public records, a cause Olea had been devoted to during his life.[3]

Reporters Without Borders offered the following statements, “We extend our condolences to Olea’s family and friends.”[5] “His murder is another tragic example of the complete lack of security for media workers in the Philippines and shows that the ‘super body’ that the justice minister created last year to reinforce efforts to combat violence against journalists has been insufficient.”[5]

Herminio R. Coloma, secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office in the Philippines, said that Olea was a "crusading journalist who exposed irregularities, for which he had been receiving threats to his life. We deplore the senseless killing."[8]

Luis Raymund Villafuerte, governor of Camarines Sur, offered a reward of 500,000 pesos (11,500 USD) for any leads on the identities and whereabouts of Olea’s killers.[1]

Romeo Olea began his career in radio broadcasting in 1998. He worked for DZGE in Canaman, DWKI in Iriga City, and DWEB-FM.[7]

Olea was survived by his wife, Raquel, and two children, Jester Angelo and Janri.[4]