Good as solved.

That is what Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, provincial police director, said of the shooting of Ferdinand "Bambi" Yngson, station manager of RGMA Super Radyo-Bacolod, Wednesday by a deputized agent of the Land Transportation Office in Sagay City. Franco said the arrest of the suspect identified as Romeo Corbo Jr., his admission of the crime, although he claimed self-defense, and the testimonies of witnesses identifying him as the gunman, indicated that the case is "as good as solved".

Supt.William Senoron yesterday said they will file frustrated murder charges against Corbo who was immediately arrested by policemen, and is now detained at the police lock-up cell in Sagay City.

The International Federation of Journalists yesterday condemned the shooting of Yngson, calling the incident "another example of the unsafe conditions which working journalists face in the Philippines."

The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod also passed a resolution condemning the act against Yngson.

Corbo had claimed he grabbed the homemade shotgun from Yngson, whose companion mauled him at the public market of Sagay City.

Yngson, however, disputed that, saying he was shot by the suspect from behind and without any provocation. This was supported by the recovery of a homemade shotgun with one live ammunition and an empty shell from the possession of Corbo, initial police investigations showed.

Yngson, who is now confined at the Riverside Medical Center in Bacolod, said he saw Corbo reload his shotgun after firing at him, hitting him in the left arm, the back and chest. This prompted his companion to box Corbo, he added.

The suspect, tested positive for gunpowder burns during a paraffin test at the PNP Crime Laboratory, police said.

Sagay police investigators said the shooting may have been related to the exposè of the broadcaster on the alleged selective method of arresting traffic violators made by the LTO personnel.

Senoron said they expect to file the charges against Corbo today before the Sagay City Prosecutor's Office.

Jacqueline Park, IFJ Asia Pacific director, said in a statement "The authorities must set an example that such violations of free expression and human rights will be punished, so that journalists can work without fear."*GPB

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