Reporter ambushed in Pasig wanted for drug possession

MANILA, Philippines - Police said yesterday they would serve the arrest warrant for drug possession on a reporter of the broadsheet Daily Tribune, who survived an ambush in Pasig City last Sunday.

Judge Paz Esperanza Cortez of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 154 issued the arrest warrant against Fernan Angeles, 41, a Malacañang reporter.

Records from the Special Investigation Task Group Angeles (SITG Angeles) show that the Pasig City police arrested the reporter on Feb. 28, 2011. A P200,000 bail was recommended.

Superintendent Ganaban Ali, public information officer of the Eastern Police District, said they would serve the arrest warrant once the reporter’s condition has stabilized.

Ali said Angeles remained in critical condition at the Pasig City General Hospital.

 “We are bound to enforce the law. We will wait for his condition to be stable before serving the arrest warrant,” said Ali in Filipino.

He said they would also request Angeles to submit to a drug test.

He said the policemen who arrested Angeles last year were sure that the reporter and Fernando Angeles in the arrest warrant are one and the same person. Both names have the same address in Pasig City.

Malacañang, however, clarified that the policemen are still verifying if the arrest warrant is valid.

”They are validating...We have to allow the police to exhaust all possible leads in the investigation,”presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

Ali said SITG Angeles is looking at drug-related issues and a “street fight” as the motive in Angeles’ shooting.

In a press conference yesterday, reporters asked the police why there is no information on the background of Angeles’ alleged gunman.

Angeles whispered to his wife, Gemma, as he was being wheeled into the operating room that his gunman was an alias Faisal.

Ali said SITG Angles is still investigating the background of Faisal, but admitted they have no witnesses yet. – With Delon Porcalla