Bounty offered for info on killers of journalist

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The Philippine National Police is offering P265,000 reward for information that could lead to the arrest of alleged gunmen behind the killing of a broadcast journalist in Kalinga and a militant activist leader in Aklan.

Chief Supt. Samuel Diciano, commander of Task Force Usig, which supervises the investigation on attacks on journalists and activists, bared this in Camp Cramefollowing the arrest of one of the key players in the killing of 75-year-old journalist Joe Daquio here on Nov. 23.

He identified him as DaldinGui-awan whose arrest came several weeks after the P250,000 bounty placed on his head was approved by the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Daguio, a reporter-commentator for Radyo NatinTabuk, was shot dead while having dinner inside their house in Barangay Tuga in Tabuk town.

He was the first media fatality under the Aquino administration.

Aside from Guiawan, Diciano said at P175,000 reward was also approved by the DILG for William Bilog, another suspect in the Daguio killing.

“Three other suspects are also eyed in the murder of Daguio but their identities where withheld so as not to jeopardize the investigation of the case,” said Diciano.

Meanwhile, Diciano said another P90,000 was also approved for the arrest of DindoAncero, the principal suspect in the killer of Fernando Baldemoro, the provincial coordinator of party-list group Bayan Muna in Aklan.

Last year, the provincial government of Aklan also raised P500,000 for information that could lead to the arrest of the killers of Baldemoro, also a municipal councilor of Lezo town.

Baldemoro, who was gunned down in July last year, was reportedly the first militant activist killed under the Aquino administration.

The militant group Karapatan said they recorded 64 victims of extrajudicial killings under the Aquino administration while the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said more than 140 journalists were killed since democracy was restored in the country in 1986.

Diciano, however, said resolving the killings and attacks on militant activists and journalists would be expedited with the help of the public.

“We seek the help and support of everybody as we encourage the public to go to the nearest police station if they have any information which could lead to the arrest of these fugitives,” said Diciano.