DAGUPAN CITY, Nov. 15 (PIA) - Malacanang strongly condemned the killing of Pangasinense media man Virgilio Maganes on Tuesday morning in Villasis town and vowed swift justice for the victim.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar, who is also co-chair of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security ( PTFoMS), described the killing as an act of cowardice and vowed that authorities would hunt down and punish those responsible.
“We are deeply saddened by the untimely death of Virgilio Maganes and extend our sincerest condolences to his family. This administration condemns any type of killing, especially those in the media. I have directed PTFoMS Executive Director Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco to swiftly act on this and personally handle this matter,” Andanar said in an official statement.
Usec. Egco, for his part, said the task force is looking at all angles to determine the motive for the killing.
"PTFoMS is on top of the situation and is closely coordinating with Maganes' family, friends and local police officials to learn more details about the incident. In fact, I will oversee the investigation personally and conduct case conference before visiting the wake,” Egco said in the statement.
“This cowardly killing in the midst of a pandemic is unforgivable. We will get to the bottom of this and will stop at nothing in identifying and hunting down the people behind this despicable crime. It will be just a matter of time before these murderers will be brought to justice,” the Task Force chief stressed.
Meanwhile, in the Kapihan sa Ilocos held in San Fernando City. La Union on Thursday, Director-General Ramon Cualoping III of the Philippine Information Agency said Secretary Andanar had a talk with Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, who is also chairman of PTFoMS and reiterated the government’s commitment to serve justice to the victim’s family.
“Regardless kung ang unfortunate incident ay may kinalaman sa kaniyang dating propesyon bilang media or kung may iba pang angle like sa negosyo or iba pa, tutulong ang ating pamahalaan para makamit ang hustisiya sa pagkamatay ng ating kasamahan,” Cualoping said.
On November 10, former broadcaster and newspaper columnist Maganes had just stepped out of his house to buy cigarettes, and was about to return to the family residence at around 6:45 a.m. when two men onboard a motorcycle arrived and riddled him with six shots. He died on-the-spot.
Police are still investigating if the incident had a connection with the first attempt on his life four years ago, November 8, 2016. (JCR/JPD/VHS, PIA Pangasinan)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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