CPJ to cops: Intensify probe on Bicol scribe’s killing

An international media watchdog urged Philippine authorities to intensify the investigation into the death of part-time radio reporter Miguel Belen in Bicol, after noting "conflicting" police reports on the matter. New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said police should publicly clarify their findings about Belen, who died July 31, nearly a month after being shot in Iriga City on July 9. "The motive behind the killing of Miguel Belen remains unclear, and conflicting statements from the police have only muddied this case almost one month after it happened," said Bob Dietz, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator. "We call on the national police to clarify its investigation into this murder and clearly and publicly disclose its progress," he added. Belen sustained seven gunshot wounds from a cal-.45 pistol, after being shot by two men on a motorcycle July 9. He was a general assignment news reporter. Conflicting police comments However, CPJ noted conflicting police comments to the local press have raised concerns about the investigation into the killing. Early local media reports said two unidentified people on a motorcycle shot Belen while he was on his way home from radio station dwEB in Iriga City. Other media quoted Senior Superintendent Jonathan Ablang, acting head of the local police department, as having identified a woman who he did not name as the shooter. "He implied that she was a member of the New Peoples’ Army, a decades-old communist-inspired insurgent group that has long been active in the area. According to local media reports, Ablang said there was a ‘relationship’ between her and Belen, but would give no specific details," CPJ said. It said investigator Eliciar Bron of the regional command of the Philippine National Police identified the woman as Gina Bagacina. Local police have organized a “Task Force Belen" and offered a P75,000 reward for help in the case. Suspects identified CPJ noted it had written then President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to address the country’s high rate of journalist murders, and thoroughly investigate the November 2009 Maguindanao massacre. Aquino, in his first State of the Nation Address July 26, said Belen’s attackers had been identified. "Natukoy na rin po ang salarin sa mga kaso nina Francisco Baldomero, Jose Daguio at Miguel Belen, tatlo sa anim na insidente ng extralegal killings mula nang umupo tayo," read a portion of Aquino's SONA. Local media reported that police said they have filed charges against Eric Vargas, the suspected driver of the getaway motorcycle used by the gunman. Vargas remains at large. "The Philippines placed third on CPJ’s 2010 Impunity Index, a list of countries which consistently fail to address journalist killings, after Iraq and Somalia," CPJ noted. — RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV