PAMPANGA-BASED journalist Jesus “Jess” Malabanan was shot dead in Calbayog City in Samar province on Wednesday, December 8, 2021.
Malabanan, a correspondent for Manila Standard, Bandera and Reuters, was shot dead inside their store in Calbayog, Western Samar around 6 p.m. Wednesday, December 8, according to his wife Mila.
He was also a long-time stringer for Reuters and played a role in the Pulitzer Prize winning investigative stories on Duterte’s war on drugs in 2016 and 2017.
The Pampanga Press Club (PPC) was quick to condemn the killing.
“The Pampanga Press Club condemns in the strongest terms the killing of one of its members Jesus ‘Jess’ Malabanan,” PPC said in a statement.
“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,” it added.
The PPC called on the national police and other government authorities to launch a prompt investigation on Malabanan’s death and arrest the perpetrators.
Malacañang also condemned the killing of Malabanan.
“Jess is a personal friend of mine. This cowardly killing 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 regardless of motive,” Executive Director Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco of Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) said.
Egco himself worked for the Standard for 12 years, covering the defense, police, courts, Malacañang, Senate and congressional beats.
Based on the official report submitted to the PTFoMS by Police Lieutenant Nieto Rarugal of the Calbayog City Police Station, Malabanan was shot in the head while watching television inside their store in Barangay San Joaquin, Tinambacan District by motorcycle-riding gunmen.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival. He was 58 years old.
Egco said the PTFoMS is on top of the situation and has directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to thoroughly investigate the heinous crime.
He added that he will go to Samar to personally oversee the probe into Malabanan’s death and to attend the wake and condole with the victim’s family and friends.
He assured them that the Presidential Task Force will not sleep until the perpetrators are apprehended.
The PNP is currently conducting “hot pursuit operation” to apprehend the gunmen who fled north, toward San Isidro, Northern Samar.
The San Isidro Municipal Police Station has also been alerted of the crime and was tasked to “conduct checkpoint for possible identity and arrest of the fleeing suspects,” Rarugal said in the report.
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.
PTFoMS has also learned that Malabanan was planning to stay for good in Samar to focus on his farm business.
In 2017, Malabanan sought the help of PTFoMS and was given police security.
Egco reminded all media practitioners to report to PTFoMS any threat or harassment so that they can be acted upon immediately.
“Always remember that the PTFoMS is here to serve you 24/7. We can provide you with necessary assistance and security if you feel that your lives are being threatened in any way,” he said.
Created by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016, it is the mandate of the PTFoMS to safeguard press freedom by protecting the life, liberty and security of media workers. (With PR from PTFoMS)