Politics behind media killings in CamSur?
By Bobby Labalan
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| FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE. Mediaman Romy Olea left behind his wife Raquel (right, in black and carrying his portrait) and sons Janry (left, in white shirt) and Jester Angelo (not in picture) to seek justice for his killing. |
IRIGA CITY--- Authorities are hopeful that they will be able to solve the killing of yet another media man in Camarines Sur -- the second in less than a year.
Senior Supt. Procopio Lipana, Camarines Sur police director and head of Special Investigation Task Group Olea told Target EJK they are pursuing some leads which might eventually result in the arrest of the suspects. He refused to name names but admitted the slaying of Romeo Olea, an anchor-reporter of dwEB-FM based in Nabua town, was most likely work-related.
Facts of the case
Olea, 49, was shot dead at about 5:52 a.m. on June 13 in front of the Holy Child Learning Center along Highway 1 at Zone 1, Barangay San Jose, Iriga City. He was about to report to work at nearby Nabua town.
He was the host of “Anything Goes,” a public affairs commentary program which airs daily from 6:30 to 7:00 a.m. over dwEB-FM also based in Nabua town.
Olea suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to the nearby Rinconada District Hospital by three motorists who saw the victim slumped on the highway. He was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician.
Though there were three supposed witnesses, two of them could not identify the suspects who were riding in tandem on a motorcycle as they were wearing helmets, according to Supt. Ronald Briones, head of Iriga City Police. The third witness who identified himself as Wilson Mendez mysteriously disappeared and could no longer be located, Briones added.
First victim
On July 9 last year another media man from this city and radio station was also gunned down by motorcycle-riding assassins.
Mike Belen, a reporter of dwEB-FM and a resident of Barangay Francia, Iriga City, was on his way home at around 8:30 p.m. when waylaid by two suspects in Barangay San Jose Pangaraon.
Though he sustained eight gunshot wounds in different parts of his body, Belen initially survived – though he finally succumbed 22 days later at the Sta. Maria Josefa Hospital.
During his confinement he was able to identify his assassins through the police rogue gallery, one of whom is now detained at the Iriga District Jail. The other remains at large.
Belen positively identified Eric Vargas, a resident of Zone 4, Barangay San Nicolas, Iriga City, as the driver of the motorcycle and Gina Bagacina alias Ka Liezel, allegedly a former New People’s Army (NPA) member and a resident of Barangay Antipolo of the same city.
According to Chief Inspector Noel Abay, Nabua chief of police, Vargas had voluntarily placed himself under police custody after Belen pointed at him as being involved in the crime.
He was turned over to the district jail after the court issued a warrant.
Widows and orphans
Olea left behind his wife, Raquel, a civil worker at the Iriga City Police Office, and two sons, Jester Angelo, 20, a senior student at University of Sta. Isabel in Naga City taking up Food Service Management, and Janry, 13, a high school freshman at the University of Saint Anthony in Iriga City .
Raquel said her husband and children were so close with each other and that they usually hung around together. “They were the ones most affected by his sudden death,” she said.
Belen left a daughter, Karren, and wife, Sara Jane.
Media under attack
The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Camarines Sur chapter immediately issued a statement condemning the attack on the media and called on the authorities to urgently bring the perpetrators to justice.
Emman Llagas, KBP chapter president, said the Olea killing was not a simple act of violence but an attack on press freedom which was doubly alarming as it was the second case of media killing in the province in less than a year.
Llagas aid the whole media community in Camarines Sur was shocked by the incident and is keen on keeping an eye on the investigation to ensure that authorities exert all effort in giving justice to their colleagues.
Local media community in the province was set to hold an indignation rally on Wednesday, July 13, to commemorate the first month of the slaying, Llagas said.
“We hope that by then, authorities could already give us a good result of their investigation particularly on the identity of the suspects and the mastermind,” he added.
Political undertones
Llagas hinted that the killings were work-related and might have political undertones. He refused to elaborate.
Llagas’ view was shared by Olea’s boss, Jing Florece who was emphatic in saying that the killing was politically motivated.
Some sources said the station is loyal to Gov. El-Ray VIllafuerte and Cong. Sal Fortuno.
Villafuerte put up a PhP 500,000 (USD 11,904) reward for any information that would lead to the resolution of the Olea case and the arrest of the suspects.
Supporters of the two slain journalists also noted that no supporters from a rival political faction showed up at the wake nor offered any word of condolences.
Task Force “Olea”
The Bicol Regional Police Command immediately created a task force composed of different police agencies to handle the case.
Senior Supt. Edwin Diocos, regional officer of the Criminal Investigation and Detection group (CIDG) which handles the investigation, said they were pursuing some leads which might help solve the case.
Diocos revealed that they are looking at a group of suspects with shady characters that is being tagged by some informants as possibly behind the killing.
The problem, however, he said, is how to get these
informants to stand as witnesses as they are afraid to come out in the open.
“This group is armed and dangerous and its leader is being linked to some local politicians,” Diocos pointed out. He refused to give more information so as not to jeopardize the operation.
Meanwhile, Camarines Sur police director Lipana said they are looking into the personality of witness Mendez who might be able to provide vital information about the case as he was the first person at the crime scene.
Lipana said Mendez suddenly dropped out of sight after the victim was brought to the hospital.
Body of evidence
Police probers who inspected the crime scene recovered three empty shells from a 9mm caliber hand gun while a slug was recovered from the victim’s body.
Lipana said they are in possession of the victim’s two cellular phones and voice recorder as well as his black Honda motorcycle with plate number 1354-EN.
The gadgets will be subjected to examination and determine what information they contained which might be of help in the investigation, the police director added.
He said the attackers used a black Honda TMX motorcycle marked only with “For Registration” and both were wearing full-face helmets.
“I don’t want to die in a sealed drum, thrown at the sea. I don’t want to get shot right in front of the head. I don’t want to die with my friends in a convoy. I don’t want to get assassinated. I don’t want to die because of my articles. I don’t want to be tied by the rebels and ask money from my family in exchange of my freedom. I don’t want to die of service.”
If those are your reasons why you don’t want to die, don’t dare take journalism.
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