Journalists Killed in 2008 - Motive Confirmed: Martin Roxas

DYVR
August 7, 2008, in Roxas City, Philippines

Two men shot Roxas in the back as he drove his motorcycle from DYVR in Roxas City, on the country's central Panay Island, where he worked as a program director and had just concluded his midday show, according to news reports. Police said Roxas died at a local hospital from a gunshot wound to his spine, the reports said.

Dennievin Macaranas, an operations head at Radio Mindanao Network, which includes DYVR, told CPJ that Roxas had been threatened in relation to his work.

Roxas covered various political issues in his show, and police told reporters they are investigating his recent coverage. Agence France-Presse quoted a manager at the station's parent network as saying that Roxas had recently reported on a dispute between two local politicians. The report did not elaborate. Roxas also recently broadcast a report on misappropriation of city funds, according to The Associated Press.

Roxas told his colleagues that a group of men attacked him a week before his death, news reports said, but it was not clear if the attack was related to his work or to his murder.