Palace condemns killing of journo Jess Malabanan

The Palace on Thursday condemned the killing of Jesus “Jess” Malabanan in Calbayog City, Western Samar last December 8 and assured the victim's family and the public that justice will be served.

"We condemn in the strongest possible terms the tragic murder of Jesus “Jess” Malabanan in Calbayog City. The Presidential Task Force on Media Security is now looking into the incident and exploring all angles, including the possibility that the killing was related to his work as a journalist," acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said.

"It likewise urges everyone with information to come forward to authorities and cooperate with law enforcers in order to immediately bring Mr. Malabanan's killers to justice," he added.

For its part, the Commission on Human Rights called on the Philippine National Police "to exert all efforts in identifying the perpetrators and ensuring justice for yet again a violation of person’s right to life."

"At the same time, we call on the government to urgently address killings and similar threats to media, who continues to form part of the working democracy," said CHR spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia, adding that  they will also be doing their own investigation on the incident.

Malabanan worked with news organization Reuters in reporting the drug war killings under the Duterte administration, a reporting that earned a Pulitzer Prize award in 2018.

Malabanan was shot in the head by unidentified gunmen in Calbayog City on Wednesday night while watching television and tending a family store.

Nograles vowed that the perpetrators of the crime will be held into account.

"We condole with the family, loved ones, and colleagues of Mr. Malabanan and assure them that the government will exert all efforts to ensure that those responsible are caught, charged, and convicted for this crime," Nograles said.

"It likewise urges everyone with information to come forward to authorities and cooperate with law enforcers in order to immediately bring Mr. Malabanan's killers to justice," he added.

The Samar Police Provincial Office (PPO) earlier in the day said it would create a special investigation task group to probe the killing of Malabanan.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, meanwhile, said he would direct the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) to look into the “violent incident” as soon as possible.

“If it’s work-related, we’ll do a parallel investigation,” said Guevarra, chairperson of PTFoMS. — Llanesca T. Panti/RSJ, GMA News