PNP, NBI urged to protect gunman in Palawan radioman's slay

A media organization on Monday urged government authorities to secure the suspect — believed to be a hired killer — in the killing of radio anchor Dr. Gerry “Doc Gerry" Ortega, the fifth journalist killed under the Aquino administration, in Palawan. In a statement, the National Press Club (NPC) said the Philippine National Police-Task Force Usig (PNP-TFU) and the Death Investigation Division of the National Bureau of Investigation (DID-NBI) should take over the investigation on the killing of Ortega. The group said the PNP and the NBI should take gunman Marvin Alcaraz into custody and ensure his safety against those who may have hired him to kill Ortega. According to the NPC, Ortega’s killing is of national interest as he was the fifth journalist to be killed under the six-month-old administration of President Benigno Aquino III. Strong statement “The matter of killing persons involved in the practice of press freedom directly affects the entire press community in the country and the world, as well as the whole Filipino nation," the NPC said. “Every killing of a media man sends a strong statement that expressing voices of dissent and protest is dangerous in the Philippines," it added. The Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) described the Philippines as the most dangerous place for journalists in late 2009 following the massacre of 57 people, including 32 media practitioners, in Maguindanao on Nov. 23 that year.

Ortega, a prominent civic leader and a former radio host of RGMA Network Inc., was shot dead in Puerto Princesa City by a lone gunman Monday morning shortly after his radio program. Alcaraz, the suspect, reportedly fled on foot but was soon caught by the police not far from the scene of the crime. He claimed he only intended to rob Ortega. A caliber-45 gun was recovered from him. Ortega, 47, was the main news anchor and commentator of Radyo Mo Nationwide’s Palawan station dwAR when he was killed. According to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Ortega was the 142nd journalist killed since 1986 following the lifting of martial law. Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn believes the killing was work-related because Ortega was a hard-hitting commentator, especially against the mining activities in the province. Candle-lighting Students from militant groups College Editors Guild of the Philippines and League of Filipino Students (LFS) staged a candle-lighting program at the Boy Scout Circle in Quezon City Monday night to condemn the killing. “Today, we mourn the death of another fervent servant of the people, Dr. Ortega. He has been a staunch critic of large scale mining activities in the island of Palawan," said Terry Ridon, LFS national chairperson. Ridon said Ortega is an alumnus of the LFS chapter in Mindanao State University. “At a very young age, he has seen the need for a people’s movement for change. In his years as a radio commentator, he had actively supported LFS chapters in Palawan and campaign against the continuous influx of large scale mining applications consistently approved by Aquino and his allies," said Ridon. “We are gravely outraged that extrajudicial killings continue under Aquino despite promises of change," he added. - KBK, GMANews.TV