Media groups seek transfer of trial venue of Aklan radiomen's cases
Media organizations have asked the Supreme Court to transfer the venue of the trial of the cases of two murdered Aklan broadcasters to Manila for security reasons.
In a four-page letter dated February 5 and addressed to Chief Justice Reynato Puno, seven media organizations asked the High Court to transfer the hearings of the murder cases of Herson "Boy" Hinolan and Rolando Ureta from the capital town of Kalibo in Aklan to the Makati Regional Trial Court.
The media organizations include the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, Center for Community Journalism and Development, Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, Philippine News and Philippine Press Institute.
The groups said in their letter that the transfer of the venue of trial of the cases is necessary "to avoid a miscarriage of justice and to dispel the impression that a culture of impunity encouraged by government inaction makes the Philippines 'the most dangerous place for journalists."
Prosecution witnesses have been reluctant to come out and testify for fear of retaliation because the accused have "clout and influence" in the area," according to the media organizations.
"To date the masterminds of the crime remain free as none of the law enforcement agencies dare to enforce the warrant of arrest against them and/or conduct further investigation to shore up the prosecution's evidence," they said.
Ureta was gunned down on January 3, 2001 by while riding a motorcycle by two suspects on a motorcycle while on his way to his parents' house along the national highway in Barangay Bagtu, Lezo town, Aklan, around 7 km west of Kalibo.
Ureta fell on a ditch and managed to reach a house alongside the national highway before he was finished off by the suspects.
The victim was program director of radio station dyKR of Radio Mindanao Network and hosted the nightly program "Agong Nightwatch." He was investigating the proliferation of illegal gambling and illegal drugs in the province when he was killed.
Gerson Sonio, a balut vendor, has tagged Jessie Ticar and Amador Raz as Ureta's gunmen. The suspects have repeatedly denied involvement in the killing.
The case against the two suspects was dismissed by the Aklan Provincial Prosecutors Office but this was reversed by the Department of Justice earlier last year. The suspects are now detained at the Aklan District Jail accused in murder of Ureta.
The media groups said in their letter to the SC that recent evidence show that "influential government officials may be behind the killing of Ureta."
Hinolan, station manager of radio station dyIN Bombo Radyo in Kalibo and host of the station's morning program "Bombohanay Bigtime," died on Nov. 15, 2004 of multiple gunshot wounds, two days after a gunman repeatedly shot him while the broadcaster was urinating near a carnival in Kalibo.
Witnesses have identified Alfredo "Fred" Arcenio, former mayor of Lezo town, as the gunman.
He has repeatedly denied the allegations that he was involved in Hinolan's murder and had claimed that he was in Lezo 8 km west of Kalibo during the shooting.
The DOJ also reversed a resolution of the Aklan Provincial Prosecutors Office charging Arcenio for homicide. The charge was upgraded to murder.
Arcenio, a former Army intelligence officer formerly assigned to the 47thInfantry Battalion, has eluded arrest since he went into hiding after the Kalibo Regional Trial Court issued a warrant for his arrest on September 7, 2006. The DOJ has issued a hold departure order against him.
The Philippine National Police has offered a P100,000 cash reward for his arrest but he has still remain at large despite repeated reports that he is in the province and even in cockpits with friends..
The media groups said the situation in Aklan "do not instill confidence in the mind of potential witnesses, court personnel and complainants that their security will not be compromised if trial is held in the area."
In a separate letter, the media groups also asked Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano for assistance in the arrest of Arcenio.
They said Arcenio is reportedly being "coddled by his cronies in the police and military."