Shot Mindanao Broadcaster Still In Critical Condition

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines (August 6, 2008) - Radio broadcaster Dennis Cuesta, who was shot in close range on Monday, may suffer partial paralysis should he survive, said the doctors of St. Elizabeth Hospital who attended to him.

The bullets reportedly pierced the victim’s right head, left arm and the lower portion of his hip, and hit the spinal column. Cuesta is working for the Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) in General Santos City.

Cuesta, along with a former RMN reporter, was on his way to a nearby mall when shot from behind by two motorcycle-riding gunmen along the National Highway fronting the Novitiate Square just a few blocks to the dxCP radio station.

“This is the first attempt to gun down a journalist under my time. And I want to see these suspects behind bars,” Chief Supt. Felizardo Serapio, police regional director for Central Mindanao, told local police officials after forming Task Force Cuesta composed of repre­sentatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Regional Investigation and Detection Management Division, Regional Intelligence Division and Public Information Office to ensure a coordinated effort in the investigation and immediate resolution of the case.

Local journalists from different media groups condemned in the strongest terms the attack against Cuesta and helped find means to provide blood and medicines for their colleague.

They are also organizing an activity to demonstrate their col­lective grievances on Friday star­ting with lighting of candles at the crime scene, before marching toward the Oval Plaza down to the city police command in Camp Fermin G. Lira.

The reporters underscore with this move their protest against the “unabated” killings in the city, numbering at 70 reportedly perpetrated by the “brom-brom boys” (local term for motor-riding guns-for-hire) since the start of 2008.

Ronel Degorio, a hard-hitting columnist of the local Sapol News Bulletin noted it is high time for Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Avelino Rason to look into the investigation before local residents completely lose their trust and confidence on the city-based law enforcers.

In an interview with media, Serapio said the police are looking into several angles as primary motives of the attack. “This could be work-related considering Cuesta was a hard-hitting radio commentator and also a witness to an illegal detention case. Still, we cannot use these circumstances as evidence. We need to gather hard evidences and witnesses that will lead to the arrest of the suspects,” said Serapio.

The police chief for Central Mindanao referred to the arrest of four suspected killers of Mainland Review columnist Marlene Esperat in Tacurong City, the filing of charges against the suspected killer of RGMA radio commentator Jun Abayon, including the arrest of the two suspected killers of the late Ely Binoya who was gunned down while on his way home on June 17, 2004.

Police said anyone with relevant information could contact the Task Force Cuesta at (083) 301-5083 or use the PNP Hotline 117/166 for immediate action. (Isagani P. Palma)