The 67-year old journalist and Host for dwIM radio station was shot outside his home in Calapan city , Oriental Mindonoro by unknown gunmen . According to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), an IFJ affiliate, Baculo had learnt in 2008 of a plot to kill him from a hired gunman contracted to carry out the hit. He petitioned the court for protection which was granted and the Court of Appeals granted the continuance of that protection order.

However, a few months later, the appellate court denied the broadcaster’s petition, stating that the supposed threat on his life was “unsubstantiated”. Following the denial of his petition, Baculo was quoted as saying “our justice system is rotten. You have to die first before you can prove that a threat does exist”.