GUNNED DOWN. Federico 'Deng' Gempesaw sits on his radio program, which is also streamed online, on June 24, 2022. He was shot dead by a gunman near his home on Wednesday (June 29, 2022). (Screengrab via Radyo Natin 106.3 FM CDO)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—A radio commentator was killed by unidentified assailants Wednesday morning, police said.
The Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) said Federico “Deng” Gempesaw was shot to death by an assailant who approached him outside his home in Sitio Macanhan, Barangay Carmen here.
Maj. Mario Mantala, COCPO Station 4 chief, said investigators found Gempesaw's body on a roadside between a parked taxi and pick-up truck.
Citing a witness, Mantala said the assailant wore a brown shirt, a black cap, and a face mask, who fled the scene on a motorcycle driven by another suspect.
Mantala said Gempesaw tried to seize the assailant's firearm despite being wounded, but the gunman shot the victim on the head, causing the latter to fall into a canal.
Gempesaw's children brought the body from the canal to the roadside before the police arrived, he said.
Prior to working as a radio commentator, Gempesaw held was the head of the City Economic Enterprises Department during the time of former mayor Vicente Emano.
Ronald Rufin, manager of the radio station where he worked, said Gempesaw was a blocktime commentator since 2019 but became a regular program anchor after the 2022 elections.
“He handled the regular program here (in the station) because of his issue-based and constructive commentaries, which I think I won't get in trouble with KBP (Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas) rules. He is also a licensed KBP anchor,” Rufin said.
Authorities are still investigating the incident. (PNA)
