Witnesses say that Morales had just finished his regular 4 to 5 p.m. program over dwMD Radio Mindanao-Radyo Agong before the incident happened. He was shot 15 times and died before he was brought to the hospital.

According to Bong Gonzales, a reporter and co-worker of Morales on Radyo Agong told media that Morales had been receiving death threats that were related to commentaries against illegal drugs.

According to International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Morales is the sixth journalist to be killed this year, and the 69th since the restoration of democracy in the country.

Last February 28, Arnulfo Villanueva, a columnist for the Asian Star Express Balita was shot in Cavite. Before his death, he openly criticized several local officials regarding illegal gambling in Cavite. Similarly, Romeo Sanchez broadcaster at DZNL radio station in La Union was shot dead last March 9 in Baguio City.

Marlene Garcia Esoerate, a columnist for the Midland Review, and know for reporting about corruption in her area was killed by two gunmen in her own home last March.

Klein Cantoneros, 32, a broadcaster for DXAA-FM passed away after being shot an estimated seven times by gunmen on motorcycles in Dipolog City. The broadcaster had frequently criticized local officials concerning illegal gambling and corruption on his radio program. He had received a number of death threats prior to his killing.

It can be observed that those media practitioners who were killed were vocal about their criticisms about illegal gambling and corruption in their provinces.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) has asked authorities investigate and act immediately.

Indeed Morales' death is not surprising. The list of the number of media practitioners is getting longer, and unfortunately, the cases that are being solved by authorities is longer than the enlistment lines during enrollment.

By investigating on the wrong doings of individuals, especially public officials, journalists and broadcasters repeatedly sacrifice their lives just to bring out the truth.

More importantly, the role of media practitioners is to unravel the truth concerning injustice that occurs around ones community. Those behind the killings are very much aware of the influence of media towards the people. Not only do media provide general information and news, media is also capable of shaping opinion.

How is one possibly able of unraveling a local anomaly when a death threat is lurking over ones head? Media professionals should be protected from murders, to provide them with an environment where they can freely provide information and news for the rest of the community-and where they feel that they won't get shot 15 times on the way home.