GMA mobilizes task force on journalists’ killings

President Arroyo ordered Philippine National Police chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. yesterday to mobilize a special task force formed last year to go after the killers of Filipino journalists.

Mrs. Arroyo issued the directive after two journalists — Ilocos Norte broadcaster Roger Mariano and Batangas newspaper correspondent and radioman Arnnel Manalo — were killed in a span of five days this week.

"The President wants a thorough probe of (Manalo’s) ambush and other past incidents involving journalists," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said.

Mrs. Arroyo formed the special task force headed by Ebdane last year following the killing of Sarangani radio commentator Ely Binoya.

Bunye said Mrs. Arroyo’s earlier offer of a P1-million reward to help solve the killings, still remains.

The Bauan, Batangas police released yesterday a cartographic sketch of one of Manalo’s attackers, based on the description of the journalist’s brother, Apollo.

Apollo was with his brother when they were waylaid by two motorcycle-riding men in Barangay Manghinao, Bauan town last Thursday morning.

Apollo, who was unharmed, described the triggerman as about 20 to 25 years old, about 5’7" tall, fair-complexioned, has a medium build and partly shaven hair.

He said he failed to recognize the one driving the motorcycle because a shirt covered his head.

Probers are studying all possible motives behind Manalo’s murder. Police learned that prior to the killing, he was able to interview Edilberto Mendoza, president of Bauan’s association of barangay captains, who has been in hiding for a 2002 murder case.

Police said Manalo might have gotten the ire of people whom Mendoza said were hunting him down.

In Ilocos Norte, a task force formed to solve the killing of Mariano, a hard-hitting commentator of dzJC-Aksyon Radyo, is still clueless.

"There is no hard evidence yet and leads that could point to the killers and their motives," a police source said.

The Task Force Mariano has been given until Aug. 12 to crack the case.

Mariano was ambushed along the national highway in Barangay Barabar in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte last July 31. He was on his way home to Dingras town aboard a motorcycle.

Meanwhile, in the light of the journalists’ killings, Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao, PNP spokesman, said Ebdane has agreed to be lenient in granting media practitioners who are facing threats, permits to carry firearms outside their residences.

But Goltiao said these journalists must comply with the requirements, including drug and neuro-psychological tests. — With Arnell Ozaeta, Vic Alhambra Jr., Benjie Villa and Christina Mendez