Tarlac newsman killed

TARLAC CITY — A land dispute is being pursued by local police in the death of the editor-in-chief of a local newspaper here.

Orlando Mendoza, 58, of the Tarlac Profile, was on his way home from his farm in Sitio  Apalucong, Barangay Armenia, when unidentified gunmen riddled him with M14 bullets killing him on the spot.

Colonel Rudy Lacadin, Tarlac City PNP chief told The Star, however, that their initial investigation showed that Mendoza’s death is not related to his media practice. In 2003, Boni Gregorio, a reporter for Dyaryo Banat, a newsweekly here, was gunned down in front of his home in La Paz, Tarlac. A political motive was said to be behind his death but so far the case still remains unsolved. 

"We have gathered reports that Mendoza is allegedly involved in land grabbing activities that have earned the ire of many and which may have led to his death," Lacadin said.

Mendoza’s body was found dead inside his owner-type jeepney, with license plate CMT 157, by his two caretakers who rushed to the scene after hearing several gunshots.

Police found a 380 Llama hand gun identified as Mendoza’s and two empty shells from an M14 and seven empty slugs from a carbine. An M14 rifle was found 10 meters away from victim.

Lacadin said the suspects may possibly be residents living near the victim’s farm who have seen Mendoza earlier and planned to attack him. Mendoza had to cross a shallow portion of the Tarlac River, which divides the village, before arriving at his farm. 

Police theorize that it may be when his vehicle got ditched that the suspects took the opportunity to kill him.

Also found near the victim is a bag containing several copies of land titles.

According to Lacadin, Mendoza’s farm, 60 hectares in all, is currently the subject of a land dispute that has been raging on for some time now.