A JOURNALIST was shot dead in Calbayog City, Samar Wednesday evening, December 8, 2021.
Jesus "Jess" Malabanan, married and a correspondent of Manila Standard, Reuters, and Bandera, was shot by motorcycle-riding gunmen while he was watching television inside his house in Barangay San Joaquin, Tinambacan District around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Malabanan was based in Pampanga and a member of the Pampanga Press Club (PPC) prior to returning to his hometown.
Executive Director Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco of Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) has directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct an in-depth investigation on the incident.
He assured that the PTFoMS is on top of the situation, saying the task force will not stop until the perpetrators are apprehended.
“Jess is a personal friend of mine. This cowardly killing in the midst of a pandemic is truly unforgivable. We will get to the bottom of this and will stop at nothing in bringing to justice the perpetrators of this despicable crime,” said Egco.
The PPC, in a statement, also condemned “in the strongest terms” the killing of Malabanan.
“Jess to many among us, a long-time reporter and stringer for many media outfits for many years, had proven himself to be a man dedicated to his duties as a journalist,” the PPC said.
“We call on the Philippine National Police and other authorities to help in the prompt investigation that would lead to the arrest of the perpetrators of this cowardly act in the interest of justice,” it added.
In the information released by the Police Regional Office-Eastern Visayas, it said Malabanan was immediately brought to St. Camillus Hospital in Calbayog for medical treatment but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
The victim was hit on his head by a still undetermined caliber of firearm.
The gunmen fled right after the incident, said police.
Calbayog City Police Chief Lieutenant Nieto Rarugal said they are currently conducting a hot pursuit operation to apprehend the gunmen, who reportedly fled north toward San Isidro, Northern Samar.
He said they have also alerted the San Isidro Municipal Police Station and were tasked to conduct a checkpoint for possible identity and arrest of the gunmen.
Malabanan went home to Samar from Angeles City in Pampanga to focus on his farm business.
“Initial verification by PTFoMS from the victim’s close friends and colleagues indicated that he had no known enemies and was not a hard-hitting journalist,” Egco said, adding that the victim although sought help from the task force in 2017, where he was immediately given police security.
Egco reminded all media practitioners to report to PTFoMS any threat or harassment so that they can be acted on as soon as possible. (SunStar Philippines)