Abante Reporter Nerlita Ledesma Shot Dead by Riding in Tandem

SLAIN JOURNALIST. Abante reporter Nerlita Ledesma is killed as she was awaiting public transportation in Balanga City, Bataan, on January 15, 2015. Photo from Ledesma's Facebook page

BATAAN, Philippines – A tabloid reporter was killed by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Balanga City early Thursday morning, Janury 8, reports said.

Abante reporter Nerlita Ledesma, 47, was gunned down in Sitio San Rafael in Barangay Tuyo at 8:05 am, according to Mhike Cigaral of dzXL and CLTV 36, vice chairman of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) provincial chapter.

Citing an initial investigation by local authorities, dzMM reported that Ledesma was waiting for transportation to get to work when she was attacked by two motorcycle-riding men.

She died on the spot, after being shot 4 times in the chest, the report said.

The motive for the attack is still being determined by authorities.

Two years ago, Ledesma's house was twice riddled with bullets by unidentified suspects which nearly killed her daughter.

The NUJP said in a statement that if the attack is proven to be work-related, Ledesma's case would bring to 172 the number of slain journalists in the country since 1986, and 31 under the Aquino administration. - rappler

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