RMN Roxas to commemorate 1st death anniversary of anchorman
ROXAS CITY – Today marks the first death anniversary of slain Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) dyVR anchorman Martin Roxas.
RMN-dyVR Station Manager Ely Abarra, however, told The News Today (TNT) that they will commemorate their colleague’s death anniversary tomorrow, Saturday, with a mass and offering of flowers and candles at his burial place in Maayon, Capiz.
Abarra said a holy mass will be celebrated at Mount Carmel at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow, after which members of the Roxas family, RMN-dyVR employees and other guests will proceed to the Maayon public cemetery to offer flowers and candles at the tomb of the slain broadcaster.
Roxas, 32, was shot by two motorcycle-riding suspects around 1:30 p.m. on August 7, 2008 along Bayot Drive. Roxas has just finished his noontime radio program “Targetanay sa Udto” at RMN-dyVR and was about to go home for lunch when reached by the gunmen.
He was rushed to the Capiz Emmanuel Hospital but declared dead on arrival by attending physicians. Roxas suffered a lone but fatal gunshot wound at his back resulting to his instant death.
A lady witness then told TNT that she saw two motorcycle-riding gunmen tailing Roxas along Bayot Drive before they shoot the latter at close range. She said, after shooting Roxas the suspects escaped towards Ivisan, Capiz.
Police later identified the two suspects as Christian Tan and Jonel Lastimoso. Tan was arrested at a police checkpoint in Ivisan while Lastimoso was able to escape but later captured by the police during a hot pursuit operation.
Roxas City PNP claimed the case is already solved since the suspects were already captured and are now detained at the Capiz provincial jail facing murder charges.
However, John Herredia, president of National Union Journalist of the Philippines (NUJP)-Capiz chapter, said that the case could not be considered solved since it is still being heard in court.
Recently, the two suspects through their lawyer had filed a motion for bail at the sala of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Edward Contreras.
Judge Contreras has not yet decided on the motion filed by the accused.