Journalists Killed in 2011 - Motive Unconfirmed: Maria Len Flores Somera
| Publisher | Committee to Protect Journalists |
| Publication Date | 20 December 2011 |
| Cite as | Committee to Protect Journalists, Journalists Killed in 2011 - Motive Unconfirmed: Maria Len Flores Somera, 20 December 2011, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4f045a84c.html [accessed 25 May 2013] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
DZME
March 24, 2011, in Malabon City, Philippines
An unidentified gunman shot Somera, host of a public affairs program, before fleeing the scene in a Jeep, according to The Associated Press. Somera, a 44-year-old mother of three, died on the way to a local hospital from a gunshot wound to the head.
Police Chief Nicanor Bartolome said investigators were looking into a land dispute involving Somera. She was the president of a local housing association and discussed her work with the group on the air. Agence France-Presse, citing a statement from DZME, said the journalist's radio broadcasts covered the conditions of disadvantaged people in the Philippines. She also frequently criticized officials for failing to provide adequate public services, Reuters reported.
Motive Unconfirmed: CPJ is investigating to determine whether the death was work-related.
