Arroyo seeks speedy probe into Jojo's slay

Malacañang has sought for a speedy investigation into the murder of Bantay Dagat project director Elpidio "Jojo" de la Victoria and has moved to provide protection to lawyer Antonio Oposa who is also receiving threats for his crusade to protect marine lives.

Upon requests from various foreign individuals, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, through deputy executive secretary Jose Tale, ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the case.

In a May 10 letter, Tale has endorsed to the NBI the requests from the president of the New South Wales Young Lawyers Environmental Law Committee, a faculty member at the University of Malaya and a priest from Japan to expedite the investigation of the case.

Dr. James Smith, chairman of the NSW Young Lawyers Environmental Law Committee, wrote a letter to Arroyo in April asking her for a speedy solution to the case and to provide security to Oposa.

Smith said that there is no doubt that De la Victoria's murder was "politically motivated" because of his active campaign to protect the marine lives, adding that other environmental crusaders are also facing threats to their lives.

Smith urged the government to provide security to Oposa and other members of the Visayan Sea Squadron, which is involved in the protection of the Visayan Sea.

"Official protection should be provided for Mr. Oposa and other members of the Visayan Sea Squadron and their families. Please make sure that this horrendous, illegal incident is not repeated," Smith said in his letter.

Dr. Azmi Sharom, a law faculty member at the University of Malaya, and Fr. Paul McCartin from Tokyo, Japan also conveyed the same requests to the President in their respective letters.

Police, however, have already filed in court charges against SPO1 Marcial Ocampo, the suspect in De la Victoria's killing. Ocampo is already in the custody of the police.

But, in spite of the suspect's arrest, police have yet to establish the motive of the killing and identify the mastermind.

De la Victoria was shot in the afternoon of April 12 outside his house in Ramona Village, barangay San Roque, Talisay City. - Fred P. Languido