Former Oro broadcaster shot in Iligan City

A FORMER broadcaster in this city was wounded when still unidentified attackers wearing bonnet peppered him with bullets while accompanying his child to school yesterday morning, police reports reaching Kagay-an News said.
Police authorities in Iligan City identified the victim as Jose “Joe” Pantoja, presently a broadcaster of an FM Radio Station. The shooting took place in front of a famous Mindanao State University (MSU) Iligan Campus. No one has yet claimed responsibility on the attack but the victim was reported to have received death threats few months back.
The Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) has condemned the shooting of a broadcaster in nearby Iligan City .” The shooting of Pantoja is again another blatant attack on media,” COPC president Jerry Orcullo said.
Pantoja, a COPC member, was shot and wounded 6:45 a.m. Monday (October 8, 2007) in front of the Mindanao State University Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) minutes after he reportedly accompanied his child to school.
The victim was about to photocopy a certain document in front of the university campus when he was approached by two motorcycle riding men sporting bonnets and shot at close range.
Pantoja sustained three wounds in his stomach and was rushed at the Mindanao Sanitarium Hospital Iligan City where he is confined in critical condition. in
Witnesses said the assailants were using a .45 caliber pistol and immediately fled the scene.
Iligan City Police Office director Supt. Rogelio Nuñeza said the 50-year-old Pantoja who airs a commentary program over Love Radio-FM came to his office last May and claimed that he has been receiving death threats.
Nuñeza was quick to add though that he had not heard from Pantoja recently on whether the death threats were still recurring.
As of press time, the Iligan City Police Office has not identified any suspect or motive yet in the shooting.
Pantoja ran and lost for a City Council seat during the May elections.


MAYOR JARAULA BATS FOR CLEANLINESS DRIVE

CAGAYAN de Oro City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula is enjoining the barangay residents in the city’s urban barangays to help in the city government’s cleanliness and beautification campaign.
This even as Mayor Jaraula declared that he will stop the regular holding of the Clean Up Day for city government employees held every third Wednesday of the month.

Mayor Jaraula said that city government employees should better be in their regular functions to ensure that the transacting public is not deprived of the services that they deserve from the local government.

The city mayor, however, explained that this move does not mean a stop to the city government’s cleanliness and beautification drive.

“We will come up with a scheme so that our people in the barangays will be encouraged to take an active part in maintaining clean and beautiful surroundings within their barangays,” Mayor Jaraula disclosed.

One of the strategies that Mayor Jaraula is planning to implement at the barangay level is the launching of a search for the cleanest barangay in the city.

Mayor Jaraula said that the task of maintaining cleanliness and managing solid waste in the city is not only the responsibility of city government employees, but of every responsible barangay resident as well.

Meanwhile, Mayor Jaraula is also set to request some equipment from the Spanish Government to help along the city government’s solid waste management.

Mayor Jaraula said that the city needs additional garbage compactor trucks and vacuum street sweepers to help improve the efficiency of the City Public Services Office in cleaning the city streets and other public areas.

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