Melendres laid to rest in Malabon

A day after his alleged killer was arrested, Prudencio "Dick" Melendres, 41, a photojournalist of the tabloid Tanod, was buried yesterday afternoon at a public cemetery in Malabon City.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Task Force Usig chief Deputy Director General Avelino Razon, Northern Police District (NPD) director Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil and Malabon City police chief Senior Superintendent Moises "Kamagong" Guevarra accompanied the relatives of the slain photojournalist to his final resting place at the Tugatog public cemetery at about 2 p.m. Joining them were city and police officials as well as several media men.

Melendres was the third media man killed in the northern part of Metro Manila in three months.

Last May 16, Melendres’ cousin Albert Orsolino, 45, also a photojournalist of another tabloid, was shot dead by two motorcycle riding gunmen at the boundary of Malabon and Caloocan City.

Police declared Orsolino’s murder solved within a week with the identification and filing of charges against at least five suspects.

The accused, however, remain at large as the court has yet to release a warrant for the suspects’ arrest.

Cousins Orsolino and Melendres were both residents of Barangay Tonsuya in Malabon City.

Last July 28, robbers killed television news cameraman Ralph Ruñez, 35, in front of his house in Barangay 186, Tala, Caloocan City.

A few days later, two Caloocan City policemen, one with a rank of a police inspector, and two civilians, were arrested for the rob-slay.

Melendres was on his way to work in the morning of July 31 when he was gunned down just a few meters from his house.

Four days later, NPD Task Force Usig, led by Senior Superintendent Constante "Junboy" Azares, in coordination with NPD intelligence chief Superintendent Jimili Macaraeg and Guevarra, arrested Melendres’ alleged gunman, Roberto "Bobby" Lopez, 36, a resident of Dagat-Dagatan, Caloocan City.

Police are set to present the suspect to the media today.

Melendres’ wife Ma. Liberty, 38, expressed her gratitude to the police, especially to PNP chief Director General Oscar Calderon, for giving priority to her husband’s case which had resulted in the early resolution of his murder.

Bataoil, on the other hand, said that despite the early resolution of the three media killings in northern Metro Manila, they would continue their investigation and arrest others who may have been involved.

"Their eventual conviction in court and the prevention of further killings would be one of my continuing priorities for here in Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela), nobody can do this with impunity," Bataoil said.

The NPD chief also urged the public to continue supporting the PNP in its peace and order drive.

"When criminals realize that they have nowhere to hide and with a community watching them and a police force keen in solving crimes, it would dissuade them for further committing criminal acts," Bataoil said.