MANILA, Philippines - A Philippine court issued a new arrest warrant for the suspects, one of them a police officer, in the 2008 killing of radio broadcaster Dennis Cuesta in the southern Philippines, according to the Southeast Asian Press Alliance.
It said General Santos City Regional Trial Court Branch 37 Judge Panambulan Mimbisa issued on 7 April 2009 the warrant against accused Police Inspector Redempto “Boy” Acharon, an alias “Gerry”, and several John Does in the killing of Cuesta. No bail was recommended.
The court also ordered the arresting officers to report within 10 days whether the suspects have been arrested. Over a dozen warrants of arrest have not been served on suspects in the killing of journalists in the Philippines.
The new arrest order came two months after the first arrest warrant against the accused was lifted. Branch 36 judge Isaac Alvero Moran recalled the first warrant of arrest on 12 February 2009, after the case (Criminal Case no. 20846) was transferred to another branch (37) of the same court. The transfer was triggered by “Very Urgent Motion to Recall Case Raffled to Branch 35 (sic)” filed by the accused.
To remove doubts on the regularity of the raffling, the RTC executive judge had ordered RTC Branch 36 to send the case back to the Office of the Clerk of Court so that it will “be included in the regular raffling of cases on…February 12” and “be considered as a newly filed case” on 11 February 2009.
Cuesta died in the hospital on 9 August 2008, five days after a gunman on a motorcycle shot him along a national highway near a shopping mall in General Santos City. A program director and anchor at the local station of Radio Mindanao Network (RMN), Cuesta was on his way home from an RMN-sponsored outreach program.
Cuesta’s widow, Gloria, told the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), a SEAPA founding member, on 20 April 2009 that she was glad that the court had issued a warrant but said she is dismayed that Acharon is still at large and freely roaming General Santos City. She said some local journalists even saw Acharon visiting a local police station last week. “The police told them (the journalists) that they could not arrest Acharon because they had not received a copy of the arrest warrant.”
According to a Philippine National Police Task Force Usig (Prosecute) report, 27 identified suspects in 26 cases of work-related killings of journalists are at large (22 others remain unidentified). These 27 identified suspects include Acharon and the alleged masterminds in the celebrated Marlene Esperat case. Out of these identified suspects, 21 have standing warrants of arrest.
Esperat was killed on 24 March 2005 inside her home in Tacurong City in the southern province of Sultan Kudarat. Although her killers have been convicted, the alleged masterminds have yet to be arrested despite a standing warrant. Sultan Kudarat is approximately 968 kms from Manila.
As in the Esperat case, the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists (FFFJ) filed last 12 February 2009 a request to transfer the trial to another court in Makati City to avoid the political clout of the accused.
FFFJ is a coalition of media organizations formed to address the killing of journalists. It is composed of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (Association of Broadcasters of the Philippines), the Philippine Press Institute, the Center for Community Journalism and Development, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, and the CMFR, which serves as its secretariat.
CMFR (http://cmfr.com.ph/) is a SEAPA founding member based in Manila, the Philippines, working to promote ethical journalism and to protect press freedom.
Showing posts with label CMFR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CMFR. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Radio broadcaster claims getting threats from Philippine military unit
DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 21, 2009) - A Filipino radio broadcaster allegedly received a message through his mobile phone on March 16 threatening him for his supposedly biased reporting.
The radio broadcaster believes the threat came from the military. The spokesman of the regional military unit concerned has denied the allegation. News director Elgin Damasco of dxDC-Radio Mindanao Network in Davao City said he received the message 15 minutes towards the end of his daily program " Tinuod nga Balita (The Real News)" which runs from 5 to 6 in the morning. Davao City is approximately 946 kilometers south of Manila.
Damasco told CMFR in a phone interview he “believes that the military was behind the death threat” since most of his exposés are about military abuses in Davao. A military spokesman, however, refuted the allegation.
Damasco linked the threat to his interview with Leoncio Pitao, a.k.a. Commander Parago, a local leader of the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Damasco interviewed Parago in Paquibato District, three days after the latter’s daughter, 20-year old elementary teacher Rebelyn, was abducted, raped, and killed in Carmen, Davao del Norte.
Apart from this, Damasco had also been tackling other issues such as the alleged mauling of several residents of Paquibato District in Davao City by elements of the 3rd Special Forces under the 1003rd Infantry Battalion.
Major Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman of the Eastern Mindanao Command, denied that the threat came from the military. He even described Damasco as a fair reporter. “During our interviews, he was letting us talk and letting the other side talk also. He was like an arbiter,” he told the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR).
The message from an unknown sender (with cell phone no. 0905-507-5929) read: “K a Damasco, mula ng kayong 3 ay naging spokesman ng NPA, matagumpay kayong nanalo sa propaganda laban sa AFP, dahil dyan may reward kayong 3 (Ka Damasco, since the three of you became spokespersons of the New People’s Army, the Armed Forces of the Philippines lost in the propaganda battle and because of that, a reward awaits the three of you).”
Damasco said the other two mentioned in the message may have been his co-workers, station manager Dodong Solis and senior anchor Alex Roldan. He said they have been noted for being critical of the military when reporting on human rights issues.
After he read the message, Damasco said he made a commentary over the air denying the anonymous text message sender’s accusation. Another message came after that, which said:
“ Matapang ka ha... (So you’re really tough...)” CMFR tried to call the mobile phone number where the message came from but the number was inaccessible.
After Damasco interviewed Parago, suspicious looking men have been seen in the vicinity of the house of Damasco, which is also near the residence of Solis. Neighbors said the men were asking them about the whereabouts of Damasco and Solis. (Souteast Asian Press Alliance - http://www.seapabkk.org/newdesign/newsdetail.php?No=1055)
The radio broadcaster believes the threat came from the military. The spokesman of the regional military unit concerned has denied the allegation. News director Elgin Damasco of dxDC-Radio Mindanao Network in Davao City said he received the message 15 minutes towards the end of his daily program " Tinuod nga Balita (The Real News)" which runs from 5 to 6 in the morning. Davao City is approximately 946 kilometers south of Manila.
Damasco told CMFR in a phone interview he “believes that the military was behind the death threat” since most of his exposés are about military abuses in Davao. A military spokesman, however, refuted the allegation.
Damasco linked the threat to his interview with Leoncio Pitao, a.k.a. Commander Parago, a local leader of the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Damasco interviewed Parago in Paquibato District, three days after the latter’s daughter, 20-year old elementary teacher Rebelyn, was abducted, raped, and killed in Carmen, Davao del Norte.
Apart from this, Damasco had also been tackling other issues such as the alleged mauling of several residents of Paquibato District in Davao City by elements of the 3rd Special Forces under the 1003rd Infantry Battalion.
Major Randolph Cabangbang, spokesman of the Eastern Mindanao Command, denied that the threat came from the military. He even described Damasco as a fair reporter. “During our interviews, he was letting us talk and letting the other side talk also. He was like an arbiter,” he told the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR).
The message from an unknown sender (with cell phone no. 0905-507-5929) read: “K a Damasco, mula ng kayong 3 ay naging spokesman ng NPA, matagumpay kayong nanalo sa propaganda laban sa AFP, dahil dyan may reward kayong 3 (Ka Damasco, since the three of you became spokespersons of the New People’s Army, the Armed Forces of the Philippines lost in the propaganda battle and because of that, a reward awaits the three of you).”
Damasco said the other two mentioned in the message may have been his co-workers, station manager Dodong Solis and senior anchor Alex Roldan. He said they have been noted for being critical of the military when reporting on human rights issues.
After he read the message, Damasco said he made a commentary over the air denying the anonymous text message sender’s accusation. Another message came after that, which said:
“ Matapang ka ha... (So you’re really tough...)” CMFR tried to call the mobile phone number where the message came from but the number was inaccessible.
After Damasco interviewed Parago, suspicious looking men have been seen in the vicinity of the house of Damasco, which is also near the residence of Solis. Neighbors said the men were asking them about the whereabouts of Damasco and Solis. (Souteast Asian Press Alliance - http://www.seapabkk.org/newdesign/newsdetail.php?No=1055)
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Philippines Senate plans to quiz journalist over report on President Arroyo's husband
Jose Miguel Arroyo, husband of President Gloria Arroyo is flanked by lawyers before the Philippine government inquiry by the Office of the Ombudsman in Manila on March 4, 2008. Jose Miguel Arroyo faced allegations that he used his influence to help Chinese state firm ZTE Corp win a 329-million USD national Internet broadband deal.(Photo courtesy: Agence France-Presse AFP)Press freedom groups in the Philippines have called on the Senate to withdraw its invitation to a reporter to appear before the inquiry into the alleged corruption in World Bank (WB)-funded road projects, saying doing so might be “undue interference” in his work as a journalist.
The Senate Committee on Economic Affairs headed by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago has summoned Newsbreak senior writer Aries Rufo to testify in the hearings on the World Bank ban on construction firms it accuses of corruption.
Rufo was among the first to report on the results of the WB investigation, in which some witnesses linked President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s husband Jose Miguel Arroyo to certain corrupt practices. Rufo based his story on the confidential WB report, parts of which Newsbreak obtained.
According to the WB investigation report, which looked into alleged collusion and rigging in WB-funded road projects, a Japanese contractor and Mr Arroyo met and "discussed bribes." From that meeting, it was impressed on him that "(bribe) money was important to do business in the Philippines."
The World Bank report was prepared by its Integrity Vice Presidency (INT) unit. The report said the Japanese executive also met a former senator and "it had been made clear to him that there would be no business in the Philippines without paying money."
The Japanese was also told that “money would have to be paid as high up as the president, senior government officials and politicians in order to do any further business in the country." The Japanese contractor, however, had no direct contact with the President. The report further added: “To win a contract, it would also be necessary to pay the head of the bureau and politicians several million yen.”
The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) regard with extreme reservation the practice of summoning journalists to various inquiries—whether by security forces, either chamber of Congress, or any other government entity—supposedly to shed light on their news reports on matters of public interest. To further the goals of the inquiry or investigation, in most cases the journalist ends up being asked to provide confidential information, and/or to reveal his or her sources.
Both compromise the journalist’s primary obligation in a democracy: that of informing the public on matters that concern it. Journalists are sometimes provided confidential information for background rather than publication, and are compelled by journalism ethics to honor agreements of non-disclosure sources may require for a number of reasons, among them their safety. Some sources also prefer not to be known for the same reasons, CMFR/NUJP said.
Revealing confidential information and the identity of sources are of no relevance to the fundamental journalistic task of providing information that both reporters and editors are convinced is accurate as well as fair, and balanced as well as significant. Honouring confidentiality agreements and protecting sources are thus sanctioned by the ethics of journalism. In addition, journalists are also protected by Philippine law from disclosing their sources.
"We therefore ask the Senate to withdraw its plan to interrogate Rufo and to instead refer for information to the reports he has written and which his editors have approved for publication.
Publication defines the limits of a journalist’s responsibility to the public, and for which he may be held accountable. Anything beyond those parameters constitutes undue interference in the news media’s task of providing the public the information it needs and expects, and involves the journalist in functions external to those of the press," the two organisations said.(http://www.newswatch.in/newsblog/3939)
Friday, October 24, 2008
Court orders arrest of alleged masterminds in killing of journalist
PHILIPPINES (CMFR / Oct. 24, 2008) – A local court in Sultan Kudarat has ordered the arrest of the alleged masterminds in the 2005 killing of a journalist a day after murder charges were filed against them. Sultan Kudarat is approximately 968 kms from Manila.
Judge Melanio S. Guerrero of the Tacurong City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 20 issued on 21 October 2008 warrants of arrest against Osmeña Montañer and Estrella Sabay, the alleged masterminds in the killing of journalist Marlene Esperat. Murder charges were filed against them on 20 October 2008.
However, Montaner and Sabay filed on 21 October 2008 a motion to quash the Information before the Tacurong City RTC Branch 20. Nena Santos, private counsel in the case, said the local court will hear the motion on 27 October 2008.
Esperat was killed on 24 March 2005 inside her home in Sultan Kudarat. She was known for her exposes on the alleged corrupt activities in the regional office of the Department of Agriculture where Montañer and Sabay work as finance officer and regional accountant, respectively.
On 4 February 2008, the Cebu City RTC Branch 7 of Judge Simeon Dumdum had issued warrants of arrest against Montañer and Sabay. But a preliminary injunction issued by the Cebu City Court of Appeals on 14 May 2008 prevented the serving of the warrants of arrest and Judge Dumdum from hearing the case. Montañer and Sabay filed the petition for the issuance of a preliminary injunction before the appellate court on 6 March 2008, arguing that the Cebu City RTC had no jurisdiction over the case filed against them.
The Cebu City Court of Appeals agreed with the Office of the Solicitor General’s opinion that the case against Montañer and Sabay should be filed at Tacurong City where the murder happened.
On 28 September 2008, Judge Dumdum approved the petition for the withdrawal of charges at the Cebu City RTC filed by the prosecutors in preparation for the filing of a murder case against the alleged masterminds before the Tacurong City RTC.
Since President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo came to power in 2001, 37 journalists have been killed in the line of duty—almost half the total number of journalists killed in the line of duty since 1986.
Out of the 37 cases, only the assassins and their accomplices in two cases—the 2005 killing of Esperat and the 2002 killing of Edgar Damalerio—have been convicted. No mastermind in any of the cases has been successfully prosecuted.(http://www.cmfr-phil.org/2008/10/22/court-orders-arrest-of-alleged-masterminds-in-killing-of-journalist)
Judge Melanio S. Guerrero of the Tacurong City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 20 issued on 21 October 2008 warrants of arrest against Osmeña Montañer and Estrella Sabay, the alleged masterminds in the killing of journalist Marlene Esperat. Murder charges were filed against them on 20 October 2008.
However, Montaner and Sabay filed on 21 October 2008 a motion to quash the Information before the Tacurong City RTC Branch 20. Nena Santos, private counsel in the case, said the local court will hear the motion on 27 October 2008.
Esperat was killed on 24 March 2005 inside her home in Sultan Kudarat. She was known for her exposes on the alleged corrupt activities in the regional office of the Department of Agriculture where Montañer and Sabay work as finance officer and regional accountant, respectively.
On 4 February 2008, the Cebu City RTC Branch 7 of Judge Simeon Dumdum had issued warrants of arrest against Montañer and Sabay. But a preliminary injunction issued by the Cebu City Court of Appeals on 14 May 2008 prevented the serving of the warrants of arrest and Judge Dumdum from hearing the case. Montañer and Sabay filed the petition for the issuance of a preliminary injunction before the appellate court on 6 March 2008, arguing that the Cebu City RTC had no jurisdiction over the case filed against them.
The Cebu City Court of Appeals agreed with the Office of the Solicitor General’s opinion that the case against Montañer and Sabay should be filed at Tacurong City where the murder happened.
On 28 September 2008, Judge Dumdum approved the petition for the withdrawal of charges at the Cebu City RTC filed by the prosecutors in preparation for the filing of a murder case against the alleged masterminds before the Tacurong City RTC.
Since President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo came to power in 2001, 37 journalists have been killed in the line of duty—almost half the total number of journalists killed in the line of duty since 1986.
Out of the 37 cases, only the assassins and their accomplices in two cases—the 2005 killing of Esperat and the 2002 killing of Edgar Damalerio—have been convicted. No mastermind in any of the cases has been successfully prosecuted.(http://www.cmfr-phil.org/2008/10/22/court-orders-arrest-of-alleged-masterminds-in-killing-of-journalist)
Friday, September 07, 2007
Journalist's Killing Nears Resolution: CMFR
MANILA, Philippines - After three long years, the wheels of justice may finally catch up with the killers of a Filipino broadcast journalist, one of the 33 journalists killed in the line of duty during the Arroyo Administration.
Currently being tried in Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 54, the Roger Mariano case is moving towards a resolution. Two witnesses have positively identified Senior Police Officer 4 Apolonio Medrano and Basilio Yadao as the assassins of the slain journalist.
Medrano was a member of the Philippine National Police Criminal Intelligence and Detection Group and was assigned at the Cordillera Autonomous Region at the time of Mariano's death.
Arnold Guerrero, private prosecutor of Mariano's family, believes that the case could be resolved within the year, after four or five more hearings. He believes that "the prosecution has a strong case."
In the July 18 hearing, Isidro Madamba Jr., one of the prosecution's eyewitnesses to the crime, was cross-examined by the defense, headed by Atty. Eddie Tamondong.
Madamba narrated that he was passing by the road onboard his car when the incident took place. Madamba said that he could not identify with certainty the other two suspects since he only saw their backs when he passed by the road.
However, he was able to partially see the gunman's face when the latter glanced towards him. When asked by the judge to say if the person he saw that night was inside the courtroom, he pointed to Yadao.
Earlier, Alvin Turingan, a tricycle driver, had positively identified Medrano as one of the killers.
Turingan said he was driving on the highway behind Mariano who was on a motorcycle. He saw Medrano take a shot at Mariano. He added that Medrano, along with the other suspect, boarded a van after Mariano fell. Aside from Medrano, Turingan said that he also saw a short man, fitting Yadao's description, at the scene of the crime.
The case was transferred to the Manila RTC from the RTC Branch 15 in Laoag City after the Supreme Court, acting on a 13 July 2005 petition from Mariano's family, released a resolution dated 3 April 2006 ordering the transfer.
In the petition for change of venue, Guerero cited safety concerns for the witnesses and also the need for a more neutral court.
According to some reports, Mariano's wife, Alma, feared that witnesses to her husband's murder might be pressured, given the alleged influence of Medrano in the province.
The petition for the change of venue was also endorsed by the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists, Inc., which interceded with the Supreme Court for the prompt transfer of the case.
On June 19, 2006, Judge Benjamin Turgano sent Mariano's case records to the RTC executive judge in Manila.
Judge Manuel M. Barrios then directed the warden of the Ilocos Norte Provincial Jail on July 3, 2006 to transfer Medrano and Yadao to Manila.
The two suspects were remanded to the Manila City Jail on July 25, 2006, just two days before their arraignment.
On November 16, 2004, after examining the testimonies of Turingan, Madamba and the investigation of the police, Judge Francisco Quilala of the San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte Municipal Trial Court found probable cause to place Medrano and Yadao under custody, issuing a warrant of arrest and no bail.
Medrano was arrested on the same day which was also the day Rogelio Pambid, mayor of Marcos, Ilocos Norte, was killed. Medrano is also currently on trial for the murder of Pambid, who was gunned down in front of his daughter's business establishment while alighting from his vehicle.
Yadao surrendered to police on November 18, 2004.
On December 11, 2004, five drunken men claiming to be policemen barged into the Casa Llanes Hotel in Laoag looking for Emilio Llanes, who was then helping investigate the killing of Mariano.
When Carlos Llanes, the hotel's manager told the five unidentified men in civilian clothes that his brother was out of town, two of the men mauled him. Emilio stopped handling the case.
Lauren Polintang, Mariano's nephew, said that they had a hard time looking for a lawyer in Ilocos to handle the case.Guerrero, a Manila-based lawyer who was a friend of Mariano, took over the case from Emilio Llanes.
Roger Mariano, 44, was one of the most critical broadcasters in Ilocos Norte. Local officials feared and loathed being the subject of Mariano's hard-hitting commentaries in his popular radio program, say Mariano's colleagues.
"Roger Mariano in Action" was aired over dzJC Radyo Natin-Aksyon Radyo. Mariano – known as a fearless and critical journalist-- started in radio broadcasting in 1990. He would discuss the most controversial issues of the day in his program. More often than not, local officials were the subjects of his broadcasts.
On the night of July 31, 2004, Mariano announced over the air that he would be reporting a major story on a corruption scam he had uncovered in his next broadcast.
Mariano never got the chance to do so; he was killed that same night. He was gunned down between 7:30 to 8:00 pm (local time) by then unknown assailants while riding home on his motorcycle after his radio program. He was shot several times in the back and head.
Mariano was wearing a trademark belt bag that contained a disk with information about the alleged scams in a local electric company. His belt bag was missing when his body was recovered. Mariano's wristwatch and wallet were untouched.
From 1999 until his death, Mariano chaired the Board of Directors of the Peralta Multi-Purpose Cooperative. He also served as chairman of the Tomato Growers Association. Mariano had a degree in Economics from Laoag City's Northwestern University.
He started his career as a radio commentator for dzVR Bombo Radyo right after college. Mariano was known to be a critical commentator on government affairs. He usually tackled issues regarding the city police's handling of the anti-jueteng (illegal numbers game) drive.
He also discussed the alleged mismanagement and supposedly illegal transactions of the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative. (CMFR)
Currently being tried in Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 54, the Roger Mariano case is moving towards a resolution. Two witnesses have positively identified Senior Police Officer 4 Apolonio Medrano and Basilio Yadao as the assassins of the slain journalist.
Medrano was a member of the Philippine National Police Criminal Intelligence and Detection Group and was assigned at the Cordillera Autonomous Region at the time of Mariano's death.
Arnold Guerrero, private prosecutor of Mariano's family, believes that the case could be resolved within the year, after four or five more hearings. He believes that "the prosecution has a strong case."
In the July 18 hearing, Isidro Madamba Jr., one of the prosecution's eyewitnesses to the crime, was cross-examined by the defense, headed by Atty. Eddie Tamondong.
Madamba narrated that he was passing by the road onboard his car when the incident took place. Madamba said that he could not identify with certainty the other two suspects since he only saw their backs when he passed by the road.
However, he was able to partially see the gunman's face when the latter glanced towards him. When asked by the judge to say if the person he saw that night was inside the courtroom, he pointed to Yadao.
Earlier, Alvin Turingan, a tricycle driver, had positively identified Medrano as one of the killers.
Turingan said he was driving on the highway behind Mariano who was on a motorcycle. He saw Medrano take a shot at Mariano. He added that Medrano, along with the other suspect, boarded a van after Mariano fell. Aside from Medrano, Turingan said that he also saw a short man, fitting Yadao's description, at the scene of the crime.
The case was transferred to the Manila RTC from the RTC Branch 15 in Laoag City after the Supreme Court, acting on a 13 July 2005 petition from Mariano's family, released a resolution dated 3 April 2006 ordering the transfer.
In the petition for change of venue, Guerero cited safety concerns for the witnesses and also the need for a more neutral court.
According to some reports, Mariano's wife, Alma, feared that witnesses to her husband's murder might be pressured, given the alleged influence of Medrano in the province.
The petition for the change of venue was also endorsed by the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists, Inc., which interceded with the Supreme Court for the prompt transfer of the case.
On June 19, 2006, Judge Benjamin Turgano sent Mariano's case records to the RTC executive judge in Manila.
Judge Manuel M. Barrios then directed the warden of the Ilocos Norte Provincial Jail on July 3, 2006 to transfer Medrano and Yadao to Manila.
The two suspects were remanded to the Manila City Jail on July 25, 2006, just two days before their arraignment.
On November 16, 2004, after examining the testimonies of Turingan, Madamba and the investigation of the police, Judge Francisco Quilala of the San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte Municipal Trial Court found probable cause to place Medrano and Yadao under custody, issuing a warrant of arrest and no bail.
Medrano was arrested on the same day which was also the day Rogelio Pambid, mayor of Marcos, Ilocos Norte, was killed. Medrano is also currently on trial for the murder of Pambid, who was gunned down in front of his daughter's business establishment while alighting from his vehicle.
Yadao surrendered to police on November 18, 2004.
On December 11, 2004, five drunken men claiming to be policemen barged into the Casa Llanes Hotel in Laoag looking for Emilio Llanes, who was then helping investigate the killing of Mariano.
When Carlos Llanes, the hotel's manager told the five unidentified men in civilian clothes that his brother was out of town, two of the men mauled him. Emilio stopped handling the case.
Lauren Polintang, Mariano's nephew, said that they had a hard time looking for a lawyer in Ilocos to handle the case.Guerrero, a Manila-based lawyer who was a friend of Mariano, took over the case from Emilio Llanes.
Roger Mariano, 44, was one of the most critical broadcasters in Ilocos Norte. Local officials feared and loathed being the subject of Mariano's hard-hitting commentaries in his popular radio program, say Mariano's colleagues.
"Roger Mariano in Action" was aired over dzJC Radyo Natin-Aksyon Radyo. Mariano – known as a fearless and critical journalist-- started in radio broadcasting in 1990. He would discuss the most controversial issues of the day in his program. More often than not, local officials were the subjects of his broadcasts.
On the night of July 31, 2004, Mariano announced over the air that he would be reporting a major story on a corruption scam he had uncovered in his next broadcast.
Mariano never got the chance to do so; he was killed that same night. He was gunned down between 7:30 to 8:00 pm (local time) by then unknown assailants while riding home on his motorcycle after his radio program. He was shot several times in the back and head.
Mariano was wearing a trademark belt bag that contained a disk with information about the alleged scams in a local electric company. His belt bag was missing when his body was recovered. Mariano's wristwatch and wallet were untouched.
From 1999 until his death, Mariano chaired the Board of Directors of the Peralta Multi-Purpose Cooperative. He also served as chairman of the Tomato Growers Association. Mariano had a degree in Economics from Laoag City's Northwestern University.
He started his career as a radio commentator for dzVR Bombo Radyo right after college. Mariano was known to be a critical commentator on government affairs. He usually tackled issues regarding the city police's handling of the anti-jueteng (illegal numbers game) drive.
He also discussed the alleged mismanagement and supposedly illegal transactions of the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative. (CMFR)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)