‘Seasonal newsman’ killed in General Santos

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — A seasonal publisher of newsletters and local newspapers favoring political blocs during election periods was killed in a gun attack in Barangay West in General Santos City last week.

Brig. Gen. Percival Augustus Placer, Region 12 police director, cited yesterday an initial report from the General Santos City Police Office that said 74-year-old Manuel Suansing Malinao was shot several times at his residence in Purok Sta. Cruz, Barangay West on Monday.

The attacker still remains unidentified as investigators continue to look into the incident.

Malinao is not considered a member of mainstream media owing to his being a publicist only for political parties during the election season.

“He was more of a seasonal press relations person for political groups, not a full-fledged media practitioner,” said an official of a Central Mindanao press corps.

Placer said the gunman, who remains unidentified as investigators continue to look into the incident, escaped before responding barangay tanods could reach the scene.

Initially, the police is looking into the angle that the attack was caused by an old grudge and is not related to his work as a publicist.

Malinao was allegedly instrumental in the filing of graft charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against a number of local executives and politicians every after election.

He was also reportedly partly responsible for the graft case against former General Santos City mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. that led to his conviction in 2020 and perpetual disqualification from public office.