Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles (File photo) MANILA - Malacanang has denounced the killing of a Pampanga-based journalist who was repeatedly shot in Calbayog City in Samar on Wednesday. "We condemn in the strongest possible terms the tragic murder of Jesus 'Jess' Malabanan in Calbayog City," Acting Presidential Spokesperson, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said in a press statement on Thursday. Nograles said the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) is now looking into the incident and exploring all angles, including the possibility that the killing was related to his work as a journalist. He said the task force is also encouraging everyone with information to come forward to authorities and cooperate with law enforcers to immediately bring Malabanan's killers to justice. Meanwhile, he also extended sympathy to Malabanan's bereaved family and friends. "We condole with the family, loved ones, and colleagu
Philippine National Police chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos(Photo from PNP Facebook) MANILA- Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Dionardo Carlos, has formed a special investigation task group to look into the slaying of journalist Jesus Malabanan in Calbayog City, Samar on Wednesday evening. Carlos said the police is "doing its best" to identify and arrest the perpetrator. "We understand the call of the family and different groups to expedite the investigation of the case. These requests will not fall on deaf ears. Establishing the motive of the case can help us in going to the bottom of this. We just need the cooperation of the witnesses," Carlos said Thursday. Forming the task group are teams from the Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Forensic Group, Regional Intelligence Unit, and the Calbayog City Police Station under the supervision of the Deputy Regional Director for Operations of Police Regional Office 8. READ: PTFoMS probes newsman'
Presidential Task Force on Media Security Executive Director Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco (File photo) MANILA Malacanang has condemned in the strongest terms the killing of veteran reporter Jesus "Jess" Malabanan, a correspondent for the Manila Standard, who was shot at close range while tending to his store in Calbayog City Wednesday evening. "Jess is a personal friend of mine. This cowardly killing in the midst of a pandemic is truly unforgivable. We will get to the bottom of this and will stop at nothing in bringing to justice the perpetrators of this despicable crime," Executive Director Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco of Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) said. Egco, a veteran journalist himself, worked for the Standard for 12 years covering the defense, police, courts, Malacanang, senate and congressional beats. Based on the official report submitted to the PTFoMS by P/Lt. Nieto Rarugal of the Calbayog City Police Station, Malabanan was shot in th
A special task group has been created by the Eastern Visayas police to spearhead and hasten the investigation into the killing of journalist Jesus Malabanan on Wednesday evening. The Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Malabanan is composed of investigating teams from the Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Forensic Group,…