GenSan mediamen form task force to follow up pals’ cases

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Media practitioners here have formed their own task force that will follow up the cases involving the killings of two of their colleagues — broadcasters Ely Binoya and Jonathan Abayon.

Binoya, 48, station manager of Radyo Natin, an affiliate of dzRH based in Malungon, Sarangani, was gunned down by two motorcycle-riding men last June 17.

Abayon, 27, a reporter of dxBB Super Radyo, was fatally shot last Monday by William Bael, a bodyguard of world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao. Bael has gone into hiding.

Task force head John Paul Jubelag, managing editor of Mindanao Bulletin and a correspondent of The Philippine STAR, said their group will follow up the cases which were filed against the suspects in their two colleagues’ killings.

Murder charges have been filed against Bael, while an arrest warrant has been issued against barangay chairman Ephraim Englis who allegedly hired a certain Alfonso Roquero to kill Binoya.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Provincial Press Clubs of the Philippines and the Publishers and Editors League of the Philippines have condemned the recent killings of provincial journalists.

The two groups, in a statement, also backed the idea of the Philippine National Police to arm mediamen who face threats.