Albay political commentator shot dead

• Local political commentator Adrian Nacion Loterte was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen in Daraga, Albay, while tending to his bakery.
• The motive for the attack remains unclear, and police are investigating potential connections to Loterte's work in media and his political commentary.
• Local officials and organizations condemned the violence, emphasizing the need for accountability and a thorough investigation into the killing.

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ALBAY, Philippines – Local political commentator Adrian Nacion Loterte was shot and killed by two still unidentified gunmen in Daraga town, Albay, on Monday afternoon, October 12.

According to an initial investigation by the Police Regional Office V, Loterte was tending to his bakery in a rented space in Barangay San Roque around 4:10 pm when the assailants attacked.

Loterte succumbed to four gunshot wounds – he was rushed to Daraga Doctors Hospital, where he was declared dead while undergoing treatment.

Police said the suspects, who were reportedly riding a white-and-black Honda Click motorcycle, fled toward neighboring Barangay Kimantong immediately after the shooting.

“The motive behind the incident remains undetermined. PRO-5 assures the public that all possible angles are being thoroughly investigated and that no effort will be spared in establishing the facts, determining the circumstances that led to the shooting, and bringing those responsible to justice,” the police said.

Authorities are conducting CCTV backtracking and footage analysis in coordination with the Albay Police Provincial Office Command Center to trace the suspects’ movements before and after the shooting.

“Available CCTV footage showing the suspects has also been disseminated to concerned police units to aid in their identification and support ongoing dragnet operations,” PRO-5 added.

Daraga Mayor Victor Perete condemned the attack, calling for a thorough and impartial investigation by the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“Those found responsible must be held accountable under the law. There must be no room for violence, intimidation, or impunity in our community,” Perete said in a statement.

“As we await verified developments, I appeal to the public to remain vigilant and responsible by refraining from spreading unverified information that could prejudice the investigation.”

‘Golden Boy’

Known as “Golden Boy,” Loterte was a news anchor for RBN News Television’s Rabas Cun Rabas and a blocktimer at DWIZ FM in Legazpi City. Both programs frequently aired commentary on local political issues.

Political tensions involving Loterte intensified in October 2025, when he filed a petition before the Commission on Elections seeking to cancel former Albay governor Noel Rosal’s certificate of candidacy.

Loterte alleged that Rosal had committed material misrepresentation and was ineligible to run following an Ombudsman ruling in 2024 ordering Rosal’s dismissal from service. Loterte had originally filed the complaint in 2022.

Rosal condemned the killing, emphasizing that political or personal grievances never justify violence to silence someone. He promised to expedite a thorough investigation to ensure justice.

“No disagreement warrants violence, and no difference in opinion, cause, or conviction can ever justify the unlawful taking of a human life,” Rosal said in a statement. “Political rivalry must never erase our shared humanity; personal grievances must not diminish the value we place on human life.”

AKO Bicol Representative Alfredo Garbin said differences in political views must be addressed with reasons and remedies, not bullets.

“Adrian Loterte is known in Albay for his hard-hitting commentaries on political and public affairs. 

Whether one agrees or disagrees with his views, no individual should ever be subjected to violence for exercising the right to free expression,” Garbin said in a post.

Impunity

Garbin said no journalist, broadcaster, commentator, or citizen should have their life endangered for speaking freely. He urged the police to investigate Loterte’s line of work as a potential motive for the crime.

“Authorities must determine whether this attack was connected to Loterte’s work as a media personality, without ruling out other possible motives until the evidence is established,” Garbin added.

Background checks on Loterte’s media affiliations show that RBN News’ Facebook page, created in 2017, contains no publicly available details about its ownership or official registration. The page has consistently posted updates featuring prominent local politicians, particularly Garbin and the AKO Bicol Party-list.

Meanwhile, DWIZ FM, which operates under Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, has a pending accreditation application with the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcaster ng Pilipinas (KBP).

“Loterte was last active as a member of KBP in 2019,” KBP-Albay confirmed.

Loterte was a known colleague and close friend of slain media practitioner Noel Bellen Samar, who was shot dead in Guinobatan, Albay, on October 20, 2025. Samar’s case also remains unsolved as of writing.

“Violence and intimidation must never be tolerated, and attacks against media practitioners and personalities must never be met with impunity,” KBP-Albay said in its statement of condemnation.

In 2018, Joey Llana, a reporter for Home Radio Legazpi, was also killed in Daraga after being ambushed and sustaining 14 gunshot wounds. (READ: Propaganda, attacks on journalists undermine press freedom in Bicol)

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)-Albay chapter reported that, from 2023 to October 2026, it had recorded more than four murder cases involving media practitioners, 17 cyber libel cases, and numerous incidents of intimidation, harassment, and red-tagging across the province. – Rappler.com