DOJ sends team to probe radioman's slay in Northern Samar

MANILA, Philippines – Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor on Wednesday expressed outrage over the killing of radio commentator Leo Mila in Northern Samar. In a statement, Blancaflor vowed that the Task Force 211, the Justice department’s fact-finding body on journalist killings, will go after the perpetrators of Mila’s murder. Blancaflor heads Task Force 211. "These killings must be stopped! I am very sad with the slaying of Leo. My office, in coordination with the different government agencies, will leave no stone unturned to ensure the speedy investigation and eventual apprehension of the criminal elements who did this to Leo," Blancaflor said. Mila, a commentator of Radyo Natin in San Roque town, Northern Samar was gunned down Tuesday evening as he was leaving work, becoming the eighth journalist killed in the Philippines this year. Blancaflor said Task Force 211 will deploy a team of prosecutors and investigators to oversee the probe on his killing. "I would like to personally assure the family of Leo that the full force of Task Force 211, in cooperation with the different government authorities concerned, will be on top of this," Blancaflor said. He then asked “those who are knowledgeable in this incident" to coordinate with the task force. "I can assure you that the confidentiality of the information you will give will not be disclosed." Seven other journalists were killed this year, including another Radyo Natin commentator, Arecio Padrigao, who was shot on November 17 in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental. "I had hoped that Padrigao was the last we would see, but it seems that some people have other things in mind," Blancaflor lamented. - GMANews.TV