A Filipino journalist who contributed to the Reuters Pulitzer Prize-winning research on President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war in 2018 was watching TV at his family’s store in Calbayog City, Samar, on Wednesday. I was shot dead by a gunner.
Manila Standard correspondent Jesus “Jess” Malabanan, 58, who also worked as a stringer at Reuters, was shot in the head by a shooter around 6:30 pm. He was taken to a nearby hospital, but was declared dead on arrival.
According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), witnesses could not identify the shooter, but claimed to have seen the shooter escape on a motorcycle with fellow riders.
Police are immediately conducting checkpoint operations at several exits to intercept the suspect and are collecting copies of CCTV footage that may be useful in ongoing investigations.
so statement, PNP Chief General Dionardo Carlos, said authorities also received reports of Malabanan under threats that may be related to his profession or “other personal views.”
“We understand the family and various groups’ calls to expedite the investigation of the case. These demands are inaudible. It is our responsibility to establish the motive for the case. We can help you get to the bottom of the world. We just need the help of witnesses, “Carlos said.
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security has accused Malabanan of killing “in the strongest conditions” and is now conducting an “enthusiastic pursuit” to arrest suspects who have fled in the direction of San Isidro in Northern Samar. He said he was.
“Jess is my personal friend. This timid killing in the midst of a pandemic is really unacceptable. We underlie this and bring the perpetrators of this sneaky crime to justice. “Nothing stops,” said Joel Sy Egco, Managing Director. statement..
Malabanan’s close friends and colleagues show that the victim had no known enemies and was not a “strong journalist,” and the Task Force said that Malabanan “stayed for good” in Samar, his farming business. He added that he had announced plans to focus on.
The Task Force also did not reveal why Malabanan demanded security, but said that Malabanan was given policy security in 2017 at his request.
Sean Crispin, Senior Representative for Southeast Asia of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), said the killing of Malabanan would inevitably have a “chilling effect” on reporters reporting on the war on drugs in the Philippines.
“What did Philippine officials do in identifying the murderer of journalist Jesus Malabanan, and who planned the attack, and whether he was targeted by his coverage of President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug eradication campaign? Don’t leave the problem either. ” Crispin said..
According to the CPJ, the Philippines is one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists, with about 151 journalists and media workers reportedly killed in the Philippines since 1992. statistics..
CPJ also ranked the Philippines in 7th place. Disclaimer indexThe spotlight is on countries around the world where journalists are killed and perpetrators are free.
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