Noel Bellen Samar

Their life

Noel Bellen Samar was a 54-year-old Filipino radio journalist and station manager who worked for local media outlets DWIZ News FM and Kadunong ITV in the Philippines. Known for his work in radio broadcasting, Samar was part of a profession that plays a crucial role in news dissemination across the country’s many islands. He was killed after being shot while driving in Albay province, an attack that drew condemnation from national and international press freedom organizations and renewed concerns over persistent violence against journalists in the Philippines.

Noel Bellen Samar worked as a radio reporter and station manager for DWIZ News FM and Kadunong ITV, two local radio outlets serving communities in the Bicol region. Radio journalism remains a vital medium in the Philippines, particularly in rural and island areas, and Samar was among journalists who often faced heightened risks due to their work.

On the morning of October 20, 2025, Samar was attacked while traveling along the Maharlika Highway in Guinobatan, a municipality in Albay province on the island of Luzon. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center, where he underwent surgery. Despite medical efforts, he died the following day. His killing prompted strong reactions from organizations including the Committee to Protect Journalists, UNESCO, and Reporters Without Borders, all of which called for justice and an end to impunity for crimes against journalists.

How they died

Noel Bellen Samar died from gunshot wounds.

Noel Bellen Samar was shot multiple times by unidentified assailants while driving on the Maharlika Highway. He sustained four gunshot wounds from a .45-caliber pistol, including serious injuries to the chest and abdomen. He died on October 21, 2025, after undergoing surgery for these injuries at Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Noel Bellen Samar, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources