The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) on Saturday said it remains focused on the investigation on the killing of journalist Jesus “Jess” Malabanan this week.
PTFoMS Executive Director Joey Sy Egco said in the Laging Handa briefing that they will soon conduct a case conference together with special investigation Task Group Malabanan in Calabayog next week.
Malabanan was shot by still unidentified assailants in his hometown in Samar. Egco said authorities are also looking into angles not related to the veteran journalist’s work.
“Gusto na niyang parang mag-retire dito at umuwi sa Samar dahil gusto na po niyang mag-farming. So isa po ‘yun sa tinitingnan natin,” he said.
“Sinisilip po natin ‘yan – iyong mga usaping lupa – baka may nakaaway siya roon at doon po tayo nakasentro ngayon, doon sa lugar kung saan siya pinaslang,” he added.
The official said he personally believes the perpetrators have proximity to the victim, since the latter did not have any known enemies in Luzon. He added that many cases of killings are personal and business-related.
Meanwhile, Egco said there have been 51 convictions on media killing cases after the Ampatuan Massacre court decision was issued in 2019.
He said they have also been conducting webinars, together with other veteran journalists, regarding safe pandemic coverage and in preparation for the 2022 polls events.
The PTFoMS was created in 2016 through President Rodrigo Duterte’s administrative order. – With reports from Patrick de Jesus/AG-rir
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