RSF - Reporters sans frontières
RSF - Reporters sans frontières
10/16/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/16/2026 13:45
Philippines: murder of RBN News Television presenter Adrian Loterte, the eighth journalist killed under Ferdinand Marcos
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the Philippine authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the murder of journalist Adrian Loterte. Investigators must establish whether his journalistic activities were a motive for the attack, in a country where journalists remain particularly vulnerable to violence.
On 12 October 2026, Adrian Loterte, a presenter for online news channel RBN News Television, was shot dead in Albay province, in the central Philippines.
According to initial police findings, the 47-year-old journalist, also known by the nickname "Golden Boy," was at his bakery when two unidentified gunmen opened fire on him. He was shot four times and taken to hospital in a critical condition, but later died of his injuries. The two suspects reportedly fled on a motorcycle. Police have said they are pursuing all possible leads, including a potential link between the murder and Adrian Loterte's journalistic work, and announced the formation of a special investigation task group.
A journalist for around 20 years, Adrian Loterte was known for his hard-hitting commentary on local politics on his programme broadcast on RBN News Television social media. He also worked as a freelance presenter for the radio station DWIZ FM. He had recently reported on illegal sand extraction and illicit activities involving local businesspeople. According to his colleagues, he had received "threats" before the attack.
"The brutal murder of journalist Adrian Loterte must not go unpunished. We call on the Philippine Department of Justice to ensure that a thorough investigation swiftly identifies the perpetrators of this crime and any possible masterminds behind it. In a country where journalists continue to be subjected to extreme violence, investigators must examine his professional activities as a possible motive for the attack.
Cédric Alviani
Director, RSF Asia-Pacific Bureau
A dangerous province for journalists
Adrien Loterte's killing highlights the dangers facing media professionals in Albay province. In October 2025, Noel Bellen Samar, a media professional and close colleague of Loterte, was also shot dead. His murder remains unsolved.
With at least 150 journalists killed since democracy was restored in 1986, the Philippines remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists.
Adrian Loterte is the eighth journalist to have been killed since June 2022, when Ferdinand Marcos Jr. came to power, and the fourth journalist killed in the Philippines in 2026, following Julito "Jaz" Calo of DNN News FM in March, RJ Nichole Ledesma of the independent media network Altermidya in April, and Nestor Micator of Empire FM in May.
Frenchie Mae Cumpio, a rising star of Philippine journalism, also remains detained in a trumped-up case. In 2026, the country ranked 114th out of 180 in RSF's World Press Freedom Index.
Published on 16.10.2026
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