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Thursday, July 20, 2006
Moneylender nabbed for radioman's slay
DAVAO CITY -- Police authorities arrested the principal suspect in the killing of radio broadcaster Armando "Racman" Pace in Digos City Tuesday afternoon.
Davao del Sur Provincial Police Director Ricardo Quint and Digos City Police Office Chief Anselmo Pinili announced the arrest of Jesus Saraum by Task Force Pace.
Saraum, a moneylender in Digos, was collared with the help of a witness, who claimed to have seen the killing of Pace.
The witness also assisted the police in tracking down the motorcycle used by the suspect when he carried out the assassination.
Pace, 55, who hails from Padada, Davao del Sur, was the host of "Ukadyang," a block time program aired over Radyo Ukay.
Pace was likened to slain Davao radioman Jun Pala because of his daring commentaries on air. Racman was Pace's nickname.
Other reports said a second man was also arrested after he bragged about killing Pace. Neighbors who heard him bragging turned him in.
Pace was shot dead a few minutes after leaving the dxDS station of the University of Mindanao Broadcasting Network Tuesday afternoon.
Three hours after the shooting, police acted on a tip from a witness and arrested Saraum, a resident of Mabini del Rosario Street, Digos City.
Recovered from the suspect was a blue XRM motorcycle, which he allegedly used at the time of the incident.
According to police, the witness had attested that the suspect was wearing a dirty white jacket when the shooting took place.
Saraum was wearing a dirty white jacket when he was arrested. There were also bloodstains found in the motorcycle, prompting Scene of the Crime Operatives to get blood sample from Pace for matching purposes.
Saraum was also scheduled to undergo a paraffin test Wednesday afternoon.
Pace's killing drew strong reactions from officials, who wasted no time in condemning the murder.
"He was a very daring broadcaster. He was the Jun Pala of Digos City. It was a big blow to the press freedom and I'm asking the government to conduct an investigation. But I will not speculate as to the motive or the people behind it. I don't want to be assassinated as well," first district Representative Douglas Cagas said.
Pace faced over a hundred libel cases in court but all of these were dismissed.
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Wednesday also condemned Pace's murder.
"We are saddened by the murder of Armando Pace and call for a thorough investigation into his killing...Philippine authorities must bring the murderers of journalists to justice, or the killings will continue," said Joel Simon, CPJ executive director.
Pace was the third journalist killed since last month. Gunmen also shot and killed George Vigo, a correspondent for the Union of Catholic Asian News, and his wife Macel Alave-Vigo, also a broadcaster, on June 19 in Kidapawan City in North Cotabato province.
Vigo was also the executive director of the non-government organization Peoples' Kauyahan Foundation Inc., which initiates community peace forums and dialogues in North Cotabato and Maguindanao provinces.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said at least 45 journalists have been murdered in the country since 2001. The Philippines now ranks second to Iraq on the list of deadliest countries for journalists in 2005, according to international media group Reporters Without Borders. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex/With Al Jacinto)
(July 20, 2006 issue)
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