CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Philippine National Police has formally filed murder charges against two suspects in connection with the slay of Pampanga journalist Jesus “Jess” Malabanan, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) announced on Wednesday.
The police’s special investigation task group (SITG) formed “to investigate thoroughly” the killing of Malabanan successfully completed its initial probe with the filing of a murder charge against suspects Aries Solomon and Jerry Trinidad, both residents of Tinambacan District, Calbayog City, before the Office of the Prosecutor of Calbayog and docketed under NPS No. VIII-10-INV-22B-00030, said
Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco, PTFoMS executive director.
“I commend the men and women of the PNP who worked tirelessly in the investigation into the killing of my colleague and friend, Jess Malabanan. We are very grateful for your swift and thorough work in identifying the perpetrators of this heinous crime,” Egco added.
The formal filing of the charges against the two suspects was a welcome relief for the wife, relatives and friends of Malabanan. The murder complaint was formally received by Assistant City Prosecutor Ferdinand S. Arpon.
Egco, who has been in constant coordination with the SITG Malabanan, said that he has absolute confidence in the investigation done by the PNP. “I am confident that justice will soon be achieved in this case. The government through this Presidential Task Force created by President Rodrigo Duterte will not stop until the perpetrators of this dreadful act are made to pay for their crimes.”
Malabanan, a correspondent for various news outfits, was shot dead by motorcycle “riding-in-tandem” gunmen inside his small store in Calbayog City last Dec. 8, 2021.
In the investigation, the PNP-SITG confirmed that while Malabanan worked as a journalist, his murder was not related to his work, citing as “most probable motive for the killing” a dispute over a large tract of land in Calbayog. Malabanan represented a group of poor farmers who were fighting for their rights over the property.
Despite the pronouncement that the killing was not related to his work, Egco vowed that the masterminds and their cohorts will be put behind bars utilizing all available manpower and resources at the President’s disposal, adding that “We owe it to the Filipino people to solve this case.”
The SITG is composed of the following PNP officers, namely, PCol Peter U Limbauan, SPPO – SITG Commander; PLT Herbert Mendoza, CIDG8 – Asst. Commander; PLT Aileen G Velarde, SPPO – Spokesperson; PCPT Michael Justie T Baldugo, RLO8 – Legal Officer/Member; PLTCol Norman D Ala, SPPO – C, PIDMU/OIC, PIU; PLT Nesmark Dave J Julian, RCLO8 – PO Crime Lab; PMaj Ralph O Bangoy, RIU8 – TL, RIU Samar, RIU8; PCMS Ladislao Z Cabello, SPP – Coordinator/Case Record Officer; PLTCol Teodulfo C Manatad Iii, SPPO – COP Calbayog City; and, PSSG Emelito Y Bernales, SPPO – Investigator.
Created by President Duterte in 2016, PTFoMS is mandated to “oversee, supervise and monitor” the investigation of cases of violence committed against media workers pursuant to Administrative Order No. 1.
In 2021, the PTFoMS recorded the 51st case of media killing that resulted in a guilty verdict, bringing to 68 the total number of media killers that were convicted by Philippine courts. And with the appointment of new media security vanguards all over the country headed by PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen Roderick Augustus Alba, apprehensions and convictions of media killers are expected to increase. With PR
