Brother of slain Batangas journalist identifies killer

BATANGAS CITY — A younger brother of slain Batangas journalist Arnnel Manalo, the lone eyewitness to the Aug. 5 killing, positively identified the gunman from pictures shown to him by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) yesterday.

"Siya nga. Siguradong-sigurado akong siya ang bumaril sa kuya ko (That’s him. I’m very sure that he was the one who shot my brother)," said Apollo Manalo, who broke down in tears upon seeing the picture of Michael Garcia.

Apollo was with his brother aboard a jeep when the latter, who had just dropped his two children in school, was shot dead in Bauan town last Aug. 5.

Police learned that Garcia, a native of San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija, is facing cases of frustrated homicide and robbery in the Cabanatuan City Regional Trial Court (RTC).

Further inquiry showed that Garcia was a bodyguard and nephew of Edilberto Mendoza, the president of the association of Bauan barangay chairmen.

Mendoza is reportedly in hiding after he was implicated in murder and rape cases filed in the Batangas City RTC in late 2003.

Garcia, Mendoza and a John Doe were accused of allegedly conniving to kill Manalo in a murder complaint filed with the provincial prosecutor’s office yesterday.

"This is a big breakthrough in Arnnel’s case. It won’t be long and justice will prevail," said Superintendent Federico Bulanday, field officer of CIDG-Batangas.

Manalo’s wife, Leony, has expressed fear for her life since the suspects are still scot-free.

"Hindi pa rin kami makampante dahil alam namin na nakalalaya pa ang gunman ng asawa ko at natatakot kami na baka kami ang balikan (We remain fearful because we know my husband’s gunman is still free and can get back at us)," she said.

The Batangas Newswriters Association and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines have helped the Manalos seek protection from the CIDG and provided them legal counsels.