CIDG urged to conduct deeper probe into attack on Laguna journalist

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) has requested the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and Task Force Usig of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct a deeper investigation into the shooting incident involving a journalist in Laguna.

In a statement on Thursday, Undersecretary Paul Gutierrez, PTFoMS executive director, said they questioned the spot report, which deemed the incident a “threat and malicious mischief.”

“The initial report we received claimed at least 7 shots were fired at the victim, Marc Angelo Barrios, a reporter of Laguna Patrol, by two unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen who managed to escape. And to classify this incident as a simple case of malicious mischief by the local police raises everyone’s eyebrows,” Gutierrez said.

“Fortunately, Barrios was unhurt and only his motorcycle was damaged,” he added.

According to the police report, Barrios was riding a motorcycle on his way home in Barangay San Gregorio, San Pablo City when two suspects riding another motorcycle fired at him near the gate of a local subdivision.

Gutierrez also pointed out that the local police also identified Barrios as a member of the “office staff” and not as a journalist.

“As the government’s official mechanism to address all violations on the right to life, liberty, and security of all members of the press, the ‘discrepancies’ we noted from the police report and the actual facts of the case as gathered, deserves deeper investigation and the suspects identified and arrested,” Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez also said a potential person of interest was identified as the son of a barangay chairman who has been previously linked to the local illegal drugs trade.

He added that the person of interest has yet to be questioned by the police. — Celine Serquiña/BM, GMA Integrated News