Work-related angle not yet ruled out in attack on reporter

MANILA, Philippines - Investigators have yet to rule out the work-related angle in the attack against Daily Tribune reporter Fernan Angeles last Sunday in Pasig City.

Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., spokesman for the Philippine National Police (PNP), said that Task Force Usig, created to focus on media attacks, is still part of the investigation in the Angeles case.

“A special investigation task group is handling the investigation on the Angeles case, while Task Force Usig is supervising the ongoing probe. In fact, members of the Special Investigation and Task Group (SITG) and TF Usig held a case conference to determine the development in the investigation,” Cruz said.

Cruz believed that more leads will be gathered to help in the early solution of the case because the area in Evangelista St. in Barangay Pinagbuhatan, Pasig where the attack happened was not an “isolated place” and several witnesses could have seen the incident.

The PNP spokesman, however, clarified that once the investigation indicates that the attack was not work-related and was an ordinary case of attempted murder, TF Usig will task the SITG to handle the case.

Cruz maintained that TF Usig has a batting average of 80 percent since it was created on May 13, 2006, amid killings of media practitioners in various parts of the country.

The PNP created TF Usig to monitor and investigate the killings of media practitioners and members of militant/activist organizations.

Killings of media practitioners are considered an attack on press freedom.

For purposes of investigation, TF Usig backtracked to cases perpetrated since 2001 with a total of 41 cases.

Of the 41 media practitioners slain under work-related circumstances, 33 (80 percent) cases were filed and 8 (20 percent) cases are under investigation.

Out of the 33 cases filed, one incident was perpetrated by the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army; another case involved a soldier as suspect; six cases involved six policemen, four of whom were detained.

Three other cases involved three government officials, two of whom voluntarily surrendered; and 22 cases involved ordinary civilians as suspects.

On the status of the cases, 20 are currently on trial, 4 were archived, 4 were resolved with the suspects’ conviction, 4 were dismissed and 1 is undergoing preliminary investigation at the Prosecutor’s Office.

The Maguindanao incident, considered a case of multiple murder with 31 media workers killed, is also a TF USIG concern. However, a national investigation task force handled the probe.

According to TF Usig, the years 2003 and 2004 registered the most number of slain media practitioners, with six incidents each. Last year, two cases were recorded.

Meanwhile, a son of a drug lord is being sought in the attack against Angeles.

Senior Superintendent Mario Soriano, acting director of the Eastern Police District (EPD), said two crack police teams are now scouring Pasig City and other areas of Metro Manila for the suspect, identified only through his alias, Faisal.

According to Soriano, reports showed that the name of Faisal was whispered by the victim to his wife Gemma as the gunman before he was rushed to the emergency room of the Pasig City General hospital.

Soriano directed Senior Superintendent Jesse Cardona, Pasig City police chief, to verify reports that Faisal is the son of the drug lord arrested recently by the EPD.

“We received reports that Faisal suspected Angeles as the one who pointed the drug lord to the police and revenge was the motive of the shooting,” Soriano said in an interview.

Soriano added that nobody from Barangay Pinagbuhatan, where Angeles was shot, expressed willingness to testify.

“That’s how powerful and influential Faisal’s family is in the area. But we are doing our utmost to solve the case at the soonest possible time,” he noted.

The acting EPD director also deployed two policemen to secure the room of Angeles in the hospital on a 24-hour basis to prevent Faisal and his gang from finishing him off.

Police investigators have also obtained clearance to have Angeles identify, once his condition becomes stable, names and photographs of the suspects.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Alan Purisima earlier declared that the shooting of Angeles was not related to his job as journalist.

Although the local police were pursuing the revenge angle, Soriano said they are also looking into other motives.

Malacañang assured the public yesterday that there would be no whitewash in the investigation on the attempt on the life of Angeles.

“There will be no whitewash. This is something that has shocked all of us. This is something that is a point of grave concern and certainly we will not tolerate any whitewash on this incident,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte stressed.

Valte said a parallel investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation is not necessary at this point, as Angeles’ wife is “already cooperating with law enforcement agencies.”

“One point that we did raise is the concern of Mrs. Angeles, and it was conveyed to DILG Secretary Robredo who assured that the investigators will not be taking any sides or will not do anything that may influence the outcome of the investigation,” she reiterated.

“For now, we should let the investigation push through. We are monitoring the situation very closely. In fact, we have received an update on the progress of the investigation,” Valte added.

However, the Palace official refused to divulge details, saying it would be the call of police officials concerned.

“We are not at liberty at the moment to disclose. We will let Secretary Robredo divulge the details at the time that he determines.”

The undersecretary also said that President Aquino had directed them to make sure that Angeles and his family get the needed assistance.– With Non Alquitran, Delon Porcalla