‘Person of interest’ eyed in journalist’s murder

MANILA, Philippines — Police investigators have identified a person of interest in Wednesday’s killing of journalist Jesus “Jess” Malabanan, of the Manila Standard, in Calbayog City.

“We have a lead, but for now let’s leave it with our investigators so as not to compromise their investigation,” Lt. Aileen Velarde, spokesperson for the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Malabanan, said in Filipino over Teleradyo yesterday.

Velarde stressed that the probe is still ongoing, but hinted that the SITG’s lead was “based on the interviews made” by homicide investigators.

Yesterday, Malabanan’s wife Mila called for justice. “That’s what I need – justice for my husband who had no way of defending himself,” she said in Filipino.

Malabanan, a veteran reporter based in Pampanga, was shot dead while watching television inside the store located at his residence in Barangay San Joaquin, Calbayog City, Samar around 6:30 p.m. of Dec. 8.

Mila, who was with him at the time of the shooting, said the shooter was apparently just outside their window but she failed to see the killer’s face because it was dark and raining.?Earlier, probers said the gunman, along with a cohort, made their getaway on a motorcycle in the direction of San Isidro, Northern Samar.

According to Mila, her husband had been helping farmers who allegedly lost their land to a wealthy person in Calbayog City.

She said he had not received death threats, but revealed that some suspicious looking persons recently went to their store.

“Here in our place, I know the people who buy (from our store), but I just thought there were these motorcycle riders or folks going home who passed by the store to buy something,” she said of the strangers.?Although based in Angeles City, Pampanga, Malabanan had frequently traveled to their house in Calbayog City where he also looked after a farming business.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said it is launching its own investigation into his killing.

“(The) CHR condemns this (as) another incident of attack against a member of the media,” said CHR spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia in a statement.

Lawmakers join call

Yesterday, more members of Congress joined calls that justice be served swiftly in the Malabanan case.

In separate statements, ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Niña Taduran and the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives led by Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate condemned the newsman’s murder.

“I am shocked at how journalists are being silenced by bullets. Their courage stems from their desire to tell the truth. We must not allow violence to kill that flame,” lamented Taduran, an administration congresswoman.

A former radio broadcaster, she said the attack on Malabanan exemplified how much media members need protection and security to allow them to continue doing their jobs.

“The Presidential Task Force on Media Security under its executive director, Joel Egco, is doing its best to give protection to the media workers. But media would need more than the help of a government agency,” Taduran said.

Zarate, for his part, highlighted that the attack on Malabanan happened during the Duterte administration.

“The state of impunity in this country under the Duterte administration is no longer just alarming but is now actually running amuck. Despite Jess moving from Pampanga to Samar, he was still killed,” he said.

The congressman cited the Facebook post of journalist Manny Mogato in which the latter revealed that Malabanan helped Reuters in its stories on the drug war, which won a Pulitzer Prize in 2018.

Mogato said Malabanan had his share of threats.

“Justice must be served not only for Jess but to all those killed under this regime,” Zarate said.

Sen. Richard Gordon, who chairs the Senate justice and human rights committee, also denounced the killing, saying “assassination put another stain in the dirty record of the country in terms of journalists’ safety.”

Gordon noted that it was the 22nd killing of a journalist under President Duterte’s administration and the fifth this year alone.

He called to mind the killing of media personalities John Heredia on May 2 in Pilar, Capiz; Yentez Quintoy on June 4 in General Santos City; Renante Cortes on July 22 in Cebu City; and Orlando Dinoy on Oct. 30 in Davao City. All were slain by assassins riding in tandem on a motorcycle.

“We call on the Philippine National Police to pour their efforts in solving this dastardly crime,” Gordon said. “The culture of silencing journalists, who are purveyors of truth, must be stopped.”

Angeles City wake

?Meanwhile, the Pampanga Press Club (PPC) has begun raising funds to help Malabanan’s family transport his remains to Angeles City, where they reside and where he spent most of his years as a stringer for The Manila Times, Reuters and Bandera.

Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda and the North Luzon Expressway Corp. were among those who contributed funds to have Malabanan’s remains back in Angeles today.

The PPC quoted Mila as saying that her husband’s wake will be at the Indiongco Funeral Homes starting Sunday. –  Edu Punay, Ding Cervantes