Five men in Kalinga newsman’s slay jailed

TABUK CITY – Charges have been filed against the suspected gunman along with four others in the murder of radioman and community newspaperman Jose Daguio. The gunman, including other suspects are now in jail here following their arrest,

Three Bilog brothers identified as Edmund, Willy and Lando including Daldin and Edgar Guiawan were charged before the city prosecutor’s office in the province’s main urban center.. .

Police said Willy, the suspected gunman is now in police custody after he was identified by witnesses as the one who shot the 75-year-old Daguio in his house.

He was reportedly involved in cattle rustling, along with the other suspects and Daguio could have been killed for exposing the illegal activities of his attackers.

The Guiawan brothers are wanted for double murder and a warrant has been issued for their arrest.

Still, other angels related to the killing like those related to media or land dispute are sill be investigated by police.

Media groups said Daguio was a long-time commentator for a local radio station and a columnist of a provincial daily until he retired in the 1980s.

Daguio had continued to be outspoken about alleged irregularities in Kalinga, and Cruz said the victim recently identified those behind cattle rustling activities in the province.

Daguio was the 140th journalist killed since media freedom was restored after the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos was toppled in 1986.

Daguio was also the first journalist murdered since President Aquino took office on June 30.