Eastern Visayas top cop condemns journalist’s killing, forms task group

BRIGADIER General Rommel Bernardo Cabagnot, police director of Eastern Visayas, ordered the creation of the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG)-"Malabanan" to probe the killing of Jesus "Jess" Malabanan, a Pampanga-based journalist who was killed in his home in Calbayog City on December 8, 2021.

“This case is everybody’s concern since the victim is a media personality. Maybe, this is an attack on our press freedom and this must be resolved immediately,” Cabagnot said.

"Let us all do our part in identifying the perpetrators so they will be put behind bars and that justice be given not only to the family but to the government as well," the police official said in a statement.

Cabagnot "extremely" condemned the killing and directed the task group and all the police units in Samar Police Provincial Office "to work hand-in-hand for the speedy resolution of the case."

According to Cabagnot, task group "Malabanan" was created "to lead an in-depth investigation over the traitorous killing of Malabanan."

The task group is headed by Colonel Peter Limbauan, provincial director of Samar Police Provincial Office, with Lieutenant Herbert Mendoza, Lieutenant Aileen Velarde, Captain Michael Justine Baldugo, Lieutenant Colonel Norman Ala, Lieutenant Nesmark Dave Julian, Major Ralph Bangoy, Chief Master Sergeant Ladislao Cabello, Lieutenant Colonel Teodulfo Manatad III, and Staff Sergeant Emelito Bernales as members.

Malabanan was watching television inside their store when he was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen.

He was hit on the left side portion of his head.

Malabanan was rushed to the St. Camillus Hospital in Calbayog City for medical treatment but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician, Dr. Gilbert Cabigon.

The gunmen fled north, toward San Isidro, Northern, Samar, police said in the report. (SunStar Philippines)

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