Task Force Usig joins probe of journalist’s slay

Task Force Usig has stepped into the investigation on the slaying of a newspaper publisher and columnist in Pasig last Tuesday.

Eastern Police District director Chief Superintendent Leon Nilo de la Cruz said Task Force Usig would conduct a parallel investigation into the killing of Benefredo Acabal.

“We will be changing notes with the Task Force Usig until we are able to solve Acabal’s killing,” he said.

De la Cruz said an identification card recovered from Acabal identified him as a publisher and columnist of the Cavite-based Filipino Newsmen. He was also in the trucking business.

“We are establishing whether he is really a journalist, because even his wife does not know this,” he said.

A witness, Ronaldo Lising, 22, said he was walking along Amang Rodriguez Avenue in Barangay Manggahan when he heard successive gunshots at 10:15 p.m. on Monday.

He saw the bleeding victim being chased by a gunman, he added.

Acabal is the 71st journalist to be killed since 1986 and the first this year.

President Arroyo created Task Force Usig to investigate the murders of journalists and other unexplained killings. – Non Alquitran