Crime reporter killed in shootout between police and gang

Reporters Without Borders is shocked to learn that Jojo Trajano, a crime reporter with the local tabloid Remate, was killed in a shootout between police and suspected criminals while accompanying the police in a raid on a gang hideout on the outskirts of Manila on 3 June. He was the second journalist to be killed in the course of his work in the Philippines this year. “We offer our sincere condolences to Trajano’s family and colleagues,” Reporters Without Borders said. “His death highlights how dangerous it is to be a reporter in the field in the Philippines.” The suspects opened fire as the police were closing in on their hideout in Taytay (in Rizal province) at 2:30 a.m. on 3 June. Trajano, a police officer and a presumed gang member were killed in the ensuing shootout. The police said Trajano had requested and received permission to cover the operation. The police arrested six people in the raid but at least six suspects, including the gang’s presumed leader, managed to escape, the news website GMA said. The national police chief announced afterwards that the guidelines on media coverage of police operations would be reviewed. “We hope that our media personalities will also coordinate properly and also consider the security threats that are there when they join police operations,” he said.