Reward up for information on GenSan journalist's slay

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – General Santos City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio will put up a reward for any information that would lead to the arrest of the killers of journalist Christopher Guarin.

Custodio assured reporters in General Santos the other day that she would use her authority in helping solve the murder of Guarin, publisher of weekly Tatak, which is circulated in South Cotabato, Sarangani, and General Santos City (Socsargen).

Chief Superintendent Benjardi Mantele, director of the Region 12 police, said there are indications that a personal grudge could be the motive for the murder of Guarin and has nothing to do with his work as a journalist.

Members of different press organizations in Socsargen and the chapters of the National Union of Journalists in Central Mindanao have urged Region 12 police to identify and arrest Guarin’s killers.

Members of General Santos City’s media community said investigators are still clueless on the identities of the suspects and their real motive for the gruesome killing of Guarin.

Guarin was on his way home Thursday night from work to his house in General Santos along with his wife when one of two men riding tandem on a motorcycle shot the victim.

Guarin was able to jump out of his car, but the suspects chased him and shot him again.

Edwin Espejo, chairman of the NUJP’s chapter in General Santos City, told Mayor Custodio during her dialogue with members of local press organizations, that  they are concerned that the recent killing had made the city a “dangerous place”  for journalists.

Espejo said that 20 journalists have been killed since 1986, including the 14 victims of the Maguindanao massacre on Nov. 23, 2009.

He said they are outraged by the spate of killings, most of them still unsolved.

Custodio, also chair of General Santos City Peace and Order Council, urged journalists to help police solve the Guarin murder.

Custodio said it is up to the local police to recommend the amount of reward she is to offer for the arrest of Guarin’s killer.

The mayor said she and all of the city’s community leaders are coordinating with the police to solve the murder of Guarin.