No let-up on probe into media killings

CEBU, Philippines - Every time a member of the fourth estate is killed, responsible government agencies do the expected: order for an immediate resolution of the case, form a task force, and investigate.

But despite these declarations, media groups deplored the snail-paced resolution of murder involving personalities of main stream media.

As it is, amid government's declaration to run after the suspect, media killings continue.

And yes, the PNP gets their share of blame for the perceived impunity against perpetrators of media  killings.

"But I can assure you that we are deeply involved in cases involving people from the media," said Director Vicente Magalong, head of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

As the office of primary responsibility when it comes to investigation, CIDG usually heads the task groups that run after media killings.

"In fact, there is no let-up on our operations against murder of media people. I have been going around para mapadali ang aming investigation," he added.

However, "but you should understand that we have also limitations."

These limitations could be in terms of crime scene investigation and analysis of forensic evidence, among others, Magalong added.

He noted that even in other countries, it usually takes time to finish the investigation. Under  the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, the National Union of Journalist of the Philippines recorded 31 media personalities killed. Twenty-six of these are considered work-related.

In the 2013 impunity index of the New York-based press freedom watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists, 55 journalist killings have gone unsolved in the past decade despite Aquino's pronouncement to end impunity.

This put the country in third place among countries listed as the most dangerous in the world for journalists, next to Iraq and Somalia.

In Western Visayas, the latest attack against a media personality happened December 2013.Jonavin "Jhey-R" Villalva of Manila Broadcasting Company's Aksyon Radyo-Iloilo survived an assassination plot by unidentified gunmen.

He only sustained a minor injury.

On February 2012, there was also a botched assassination of radio blocktime host Fernando "Kapid" Gabio.

Notorious criminal Eliseo Mabayag, leader of Magkal Group, was named suspect of the incident.

Mabayag was killed several months ago in a shootout with police operatives.

On August 22, 2011, Niel "Lito" Jimena was shot dead in the afternoon of August 22, 2011 at the National Highway in Bangga Maravilla, Barangay 3, E.B. Magalona in Negros Occidental by two  unidentified suspects. /JMD (FREEMAN)