City to build marker for slain journalist

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Government is planning to build a marker of the slain journalist Antonio Abad Tormis along Borromeo Street where he was killed 49 years ago.

 The plan is discussed just as members of the Cebu media are scheduled to celebrate Press Freedom on the third week of this month.

The Cebu City Council yesterday passed the proposed resolution of Councilor Edgardo Labella urging the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) to prepare the program of works and estimates (POWE) for the construction of the historical marker.

Labella said the construction of the marker for Tormis will remind other members of the media in Cebu about Tormis’ fearless campaign against anomalies of government officials.

He explained that there was already a marker installed at the place where Tormis was killed in 1961, but this was removed during the renovation of a temple along Borromeo Street and was never reinstalled.

The Cebu Media Council had asked the assistance of the Cebu City Government to reinstall the marker, prompting Labella to make the move.

Tormis used to be the managing editor of the now-defunct The Republic News, where he also had a column.

Since Tormis was the first journalist in post-war Cebu to die in the line of duty, he is always remembered by the media, particularly during the celebration of Cebu Press Freedom Week.

 This year’s celebration is from September 19-25.

 Felipe B. Pareja, the treasurer of Cebu City in 1961, was convicted for murder after he was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt as the one who hired gunmen Cesario Orongan, Avelino Monzolin and Gaspar Mesa to kill Tormis.

 Tormis was already inside his car from a barber shop when he was shot three times with a .32 caliber Colt revolver.

 The three slugs that were found in Tormis’ body matched with that of the colt revolver recovered in one of the safes of Pareja’s office when it was searched by lawmen through a search warrant.

 The three arrested men had told authorities that Orongan killed Tormis upon the request of Pareja, the one who supplied the gun.   (FREEMAN NEWS)