Fernando "Nanding" Solijon (c. 1966 – August 29, 2013), a Filipino radio journalist for DXLS, an affiliate of the Love Radio Network in Iligan City, Philippines. Solijon was known for being analytical of alleged corruption and wrongdoing in the Philippines. Solijon was shot multiple times as he was getting into his car after drinking with friends. Solijon died on his way to the hospital, at 48 years old.[1]

Fernando Solijon
Bornca. 1966
Philippines
DiedAugust 29, 2013
Cause of deathGun shot
Resting placeSt. Michael Cemetery
NationalityFilipino
OccupationJournalist
Years active2006 - 2013
Employer(s)DXLS, an affiliate of the Love Radio Network
Known forRadio announcer for DxLs radio station
SpouseMelly
Children1 daughter, Jed

Personal

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Solijon is survived by his nineteen-year-old daughter Jed and Melly, his forty-four-year-old wife.[2]

Career

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Fernando Solijon was a radio commentator of DXLS love radio and worked there for seven years.[3]

Death

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Manila
 
Manila
Iligan, Philippines is in the Philippines shown here relative to the capital Manila.

Melly, Solijon's wife has confirmed that he has been receiving many death threats and before the May 13 national midterm and local elections the death threats had become more harsh. Mely also confirmed that the threats prompted Solijon to be very cautious, and Solijon thanked God for letting him live to see his 47th birthday on June 30. Hours after Solijon had passed away that Thursday night, she received phone calls asking if her husband was confirmed dead.[4] Fernando Solijon was murdered by a gunman. At about 10 pm on Thursday, he left the sari-sari store and was walking across the street to his white Kio Rio car.[5] On August 29 at 10:30 pm, Solijon was gunned down by two motorcycle-riding assailants in Purok 1 of barangay Buruun, no suspects were found.[6] He was shot dead after having a few drinks with some friends on August 29, 2013.[7] Solijon was rushed to the hospital but when they arrived Solijon was dead from gunshot wounds on his forehead, abdomen and shoulders.[8] A number of shells from a .45 calibre handgun was recovered from the scene by police investigators.[9]

Context

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As this case was investigated by police to see if his death was work related, Solijon would be the 159th journalist murdered in the Philippines since the fall of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.[10]

Impact

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He is left being known as hard working for his commentaries, and his gunman was offended by his criticism. Although, Solijon has been receiving a ton of death threats through letters and phone. He lived to see his 47th birthday which Solijon and his wife say is a miracle.[11] When Solijon passed, his favorite song called, All My Life by America, was played on the radio on repeat.[12]

Reactions

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Noberto "Boy" Altres, Solijon's colleague at DXLS said "Why resort to killing Nanding? If they have grievances, they can always go to court. If they think they can silence us, they are dead wrong."[13]

Catubay told the people who gathered at the plaza said "The killing of Nanding is really chilling. It was hard at first to imagine that while we in the station commemorated yearly the Maguindanao massacre, this happens now to one of our own here."[14]

Ver Quimco, A lawyer, an anchorman of Balaod ug Kamatuoran said "In a civilized society governed by the rule of Law, there is no space for the idea that just because a person's expression is so displeasing and so contrary to ours, he deserves to be killed. Condoning such idea will necessarily destroy the very foundation of the free society and will bring us back to the Stone Age where it's not the law that rules but only the powerful. I condemn in no uncertain terms the killing of Fernando Nanding Solijon?"[15]

Pimental, chair of the committee on Justice and Human Rights in the Senate said, "The silencing of Solijon is another bloody affront against press freedom in the country which as continually suffered from its shattered image as one of the worsts countries in the world with a staggering record of media killing and abuses."[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Outspoken Philippines radio host shot dead". the Guardian. August 30, 2013.
  2. ^ "Death threats come true for Iligan radio commentator". MindaNews. August 31, 2013.
  3. ^ Umel, Richel. "Radioman shot dead in Iligan City". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  4. ^ Gallardo, Froilan (August 31, 2013). "Death threats come true for Iligan radio commentator | MindaNews". www.mindanews.com. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  5. ^ Gallardo, Froilan (August 31, 2013). "Death threats come true for Iligan radio commentator | MindaNews". www.mindanews.com. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  6. ^ Gloria, Violeta M. (September 2013). "Iligan media workers to hold rally vs broadcaster's killing | MindaNews". www.mindanews.com. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  7. ^ Gallardo, Froilan (August 31, 2013). "Death threats come true for Iligan radio commentator | MindaNews". www.mindanews.com. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  8. ^ Umel, Richel. "Radioman shot dead in Iligan City". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  9. ^ "Fourth journalist in one month murdered". mabuhay.catholic.org.hk. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  10. ^ "Outspoken Philippines radio host shot dead". The Guardian. Associated Press. August 30, 2013. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  11. ^ Gallardo, Froilan (August 31, 2013). "Death threats come true for Iligan radio commentator | MindaNews". www.mindanews.com. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  12. ^ Gloria, Violeta M. (September 2013). "Iligan media workers to hold rally vs broadcaster's killing | MindaNews". www.mindanews.com. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  13. ^ Rosauro, Ryan D. "Radioman's murder causes stir in Iligan City". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  14. ^ Rosauro, Ryan D. "Radioman's murder causes stir in Iligan City". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  15. ^ Gloria, Violeta M. (September 2013). "Iligan media workers to hold rally vs broadcaster's killing | MindaNews". www.mindanews.com. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  16. ^ Santos, Matikas. "Pimentel condemns killing of radio commentator in Mindanao". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved April 26, 2017.