Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Dionardo Carlos said in a press conference at Camp Crame on Monday (Dec. 13) that the investigators have identified a ‘person of interest’ on the murder of veteran journalist Jesus “Jess” Malabanan and are now looking at a land dispute as the motive.
“Additionally [we already have a] person of interest because of that angle. That’s the update provided to me,” PNP Chief Carlos said.
In a radio interview on Friday (Dec. 10), Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Malabanan Spokesperson Lt. Aileen Velarde earlier confirmed the progress of their investigation.
“We have a lead, but for now let’s leave it with our investigators so as not to compromise their investigation,” she said in Filipino.
According to Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) Executive Director Joel Sy Egco, Malabanan leads a group of farmers in his province where he also has a parcel of land.
Malabanan, a correspondent and stringer for several news outlets, was shot by unidentified gunmen on the evening of Dec. 8 in their family store in Calbayog City, Samar.
He was brought to St. Camillus Hospital in Calbayog City for medical treatment but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
PNP Chief Carlos said the SITG is not disregarding the possibility that it was also job-related.
“Is the work of Jess Malabanan connected to the land dispute? ‘Yun ang kanilang tinitingnan mabuti kung ‘yung kanyang kind of work has something to do with the case where he has involved,” he said.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said it is launching its own investigation into his killing.
The murder was strongly condemned by the PNP, Pampanga Press Club, members of Senate and Congress, and the Malacañang Palace.
Malabanan’s remains were brought to his hometown in Bacolor, Pampanga on Sunday (Dec. 8) and was arranged personally by his former colleague and PTFoMS Executive Director Egco. – Report from Bea Bernardo / CC-rir
