Badrodin Abbas

DXCM

January 22, 2009, in Cotabato City , Philippines

Abbas was shot in the head by two motorcycle-riding assailants while he was driving a minivan in Cotabato City, according to local news reports. The journalist was a “block-time” commentator, leasing airtime and soliciting his own sponsors, the reports said. He died of a head wound, Police Chief Willie Dangane told reporters. 

Dangane said the killing was captured on a closed-circuit video camera, according to news reports. He initially told reporters that Abbas’ work may have been a motive, but later said the murder was more likely a result of mistaken identity.

Abbas had established a reputation for hard-hitting commentaries, which included recent pieces on a proposed peace deal between the government and a Muslim rebel group known as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, according to press reports. The two sides had engaged in an on-and-off armed conflict for nearly four decades.

Motive Unconfirmed: CPJ is investigating to determine whether the death was work-related.