Newsman killed in N. Ecija

A radio reporter was found dead along Fort Magsaysay highway in Barangay Mapalad, Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Allen Bantolo, Nueva Ecija provincial police director, identified the victim as Carmelo "Mark" Palacios, radio reporter of Radyo ng Bayan, a government broadcasting company in Metro Manila.

Palacios, 41, a resident of Paraiso Street, Guiamba, Nueva Ecija was covering the areas of Nueva Ecija and nearby provinces.

Upon orders of PNP chief Director General Oscar Calderon, PNP Task Force USIG head Director Geary Barias mobilized the regional TF USIG and PNP

investigating units in Central Luzon to look into the circumstances behind Palacio’s death.

"It is too early to make conclusions at this point in the investigation, neither do we want to speculate on the possible motive," Barias said. "I am confident all these questions will be answered in the investigation," he said.

Barangay Mapalad chairman Severino Mababa made the initial report to the local police after one Oliver Soso, driver of a passenger jeepney discovered the lifeless body of Palacios at about 5 a.m. on Wednesday.

Scene of Crime operatives reported the victim sustained heavy blows apparently inflicted by a blunt object on the head and face. His right jaw was smashed with teeth missing, and his face had turned black. The death of the victim must have occurred between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. of Tuesday.

Bantolo said Palacios was allegedly abducted and killed and then dumped in the area.

He said the victim was identified through his driver’s license found in his wallet.

Before residents found the body of the victim, they told police that at about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday an unknown vehicle was maneuvering and after a few minutes sped away towards Cabanatuan City.

Found at the crime scene were a small amount of money in the victim’s coin purse and two empty cellphone pouches.

Palacios was wearing a red T-shirt, slacks, leather shoes, while a black sweater was found near his body.

Bantolo said he has formed Task Force Palacios to identify and arrest immediately the killers.

He said that the motive of the killing is still unknown.

However, sources said robbery and politics are the two possible theories the police are working on.

Palacios is a known supporter of former Nueva Ecija vice-governor Ding Liit Joson, brother of incumbent Gov. Tomas Joson III, who is running for congressman in Nueva Ecija’s 3rd district.

He is the second journalist killed in Nueva Ecija since Ponciano Grande of dwNE radio last December, and the third Novo Ecijano journalist who was killed since Philip Agustin in May 2005 in Aurora province.

The National Press Club, Nueva Ecija Press Corps and National Union of Journalists condemned the killing of Palacios.

The NPC expressed fears of an escalation in human rights violations adding that incidents like this have earned for the country the tag of "one of the most dangerous places for journalists in the world."

NEPC president Armand Galang said it is an affront to the freedom of expression and the press, even hinting that the incident might be politically motivated.

Rowena Paraan, secretary-general of the NUJP, told The STAR in a telephone interview that Palacios is the 51st journalist killed since President Arroyo assumed office in 2001, and the 88th journalist in the country who was killed since 1986.

Last Sunday, a candidate for councilor in Licab, Nueva Ecija was gunned down by motorcycle-riding armed men in Barangay Villarosa at the town.

Ariel dela Merced, 41, of Barangay Casimiro, Licab, under the Liberal Party, had just alighted from his car when a gunman approached him and shot him at close range. – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Ric Sapnu, Dino Balabo, Manny Galvez, Artemio Dumlao