MANILA, Philippines — ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima on Wednesday condemned the killing of radio broadcaster Adrian “Golden Boy” Loterte in Daraga, Albay, and called for a swift and impartial investigation into the attack.
“We strongly condemn the killing of radio broadcaster Adrian ‘Golden Boy’ Loterte in Daraga, Albay,” the senior deputy minority leader of The House of Representatives said in a statement.
Loterte was gunned down last Oct. 12, 2026 when two unidentified gunmen shot him inside his bakery in Barangay San Roque, Daraga, according to media reports. He was taken to a hospital but was later pronounced dead.
She noted that the killing came less than a year after journalist Noel Bellen Samar was killed in nearby Guinobatan, Albay, and eight years after radio broadcaster Joey Llana in Daraga in 2018.
“The victims keep increasing, but no one is being held accountable,” De Lima said.
She described the killings as alarming, saying journalists and media workers were being killed as though such act of violence had become normal.
The congresswoman called for a prompt and impartial investigation into Loterte’s killing, urging authorities to ensure that no one is shielded from scrutiny or accountability. She also appealed to the public to share information that could help identify those responsible.
“The killing of journalists is not only an attempt to silence media workers but also to intimidate others who seek to bring the truth to light,” she said, describing the attacks as an assault on democracy.