DOJ chief orders deeper probe on Capiz radioman's killing
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez yesterday ordered law-enforcement agencies to investigate thoroughly the killing of Capiz broadcaster Martin Roxas.
Gonzalez said in a telephone interview that he has directed the Philippine National Police to find out the motive behind the killing and to file the appropriate charges against those responsible.
He said the Department of Justice will also put any witness under its witness protection program to ensure that the those who can identify the assailants will come out and cooperate with investigators.
Roxas, program director of the dyVR of Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) and host of the station's "Targetanay sa Udto" noontime program, was gunned down by two motor-cycle riding armed men on August 7, minutes after he left the station on board a motorcycle.
Police have arrested two suspects identified as as Joenel Lastimoso, 27, and Christian Tan, 25, who were intercepted at a police checkpoint in the neighboring Ivisan town. The two fit the description of the victim's assailants.
Investigators said there is evidence that the two detained suspects were involved in the killing.
"We are confident that the suspects under detention are connected with the killing," Justice Undersecretary and Task Force 211 head Ricardo Blancaflor said in a telephone interview.
The task force was formed to investigate and resolve cases of extra-judicial killings, including those involving journalists
Blancaflor said he has directed prosecutors to file the appropriate charges if there is enough evidence against the suspects. He said the arrest of two suspects is a "good development" and would help in the swift resolution of the case.
He said it is "very regrettable that the attacks have happened after the cases of attacks against journalists have gone down last year."
"I do not understand why the killings continue. This shows the prevalence of a culture of violence," said Blancaflor.
International and national media organizations have condemned the killing of Roxas.
"It is with great distress that the IFJ reports that Roxas' murder and the attack on Cuesta have seen the Philippines return to the top of the most dangerous countries in the Asia-Pacific region for journalists so far in 2008," the International Federation of Journalists Asia-Pacific said in a statement.
The IFJ, representing over 600,000 members in 122 countries worldwide, called on authorities to resolve the killing.
"Only through public condemnation and the active pursuit of justice will authorities send a clear message that such heinous attacks will not be tolerated," it said.
The killing of Roxas came three days after another RMN broadcaster Dennis Cuesta was shot in General Santos City last August 4. Cuesta died last Saturday.
The New York-based Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ) also expressed alarm over the rash of attacks against journalists in the country.
"Two attacks against outspoken radio commentators in the space of a week is of grave concern to us and our colleagues in the Philippines," said Elisabeth Witchel, CPJ's Impunity Campaign Coordinator, said in a statement.
"For nearly two years, we saw a lull in journalist killings. These two attacks, and the murder of columnist Benefredo Acabal in April, are an alarming sign that violence against Philippine journalists may be on the rise. We send our condolences to Roxas' family and urge authorities to bring justice swiftly," said Witchel.
Senator Manuel "Mar" Roxas, a Capizeño, also condemned the killing.
"I call on the police force of Roxas City to immediately get to the bottom of this case, and bring the perpetrators to justice. This is the first time such an atrocity against the media has happened in Roxas City," the senator said in a statement.
He conveyed his sympathy to the victim's widow and family.
"Such violence against the media in the line of duty and such an assault on decency, democracy and the rule of law has no room in Roxas City," he said.