P50K REWARD OFFERED FOR INFO

ROSALES — A P50,000 reward for information has been offered that would lead to the arrest of the suspects behind the attempt on the life of Virgilio “Vir” Maganes, columnist of Northern Watch and broadcaster of dwPR in Dagupan City.

Maganes was wounded in a gun attack early morning Tuesday in Villasis town when two motorcycle-riding gunmen fired four shots at him.

The reward was offered by businessman and SINAG chairman Rosendo So.

Maganes was on board a tricycle from his home in San Blas going towards Poblacion in Villasis town for his bus ride to Dagupan City when the two men shot him four times.

Maganes, the first victim of violence against journalists under the Duterte administration, sustained one gunshot wound at the right side of his body near his armpit. The tricycle driver and another lady passenger were unhurt.

Maganes managed to get to the hospital by another tricycle in Villasis but later transferred to Dr. Chan Memorial Hospital in Rosales town for treatment of his gunshot wound.

Joel Egco, executive director of the newly-created Presidential Task Force on Media Security under the Office of the President, was directed by Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar to visit Maganes in the hospital Tuesday evening.

Egco said the Task Force on Media Security was formed under an Administrative Order (AO) signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Oct. 11 to ensure safety and to protect the life, liberty and security of journalists in the Philippines.

Egco said Andanar directed him to ensure that the case is thoroughly investigated.

Andanar called Egco on his cellphone while he was talking to Maganes for an update.

Maganes told Egco, accompanied by P/Chief Supt. Gregorio Pimentel and Senior Supt. Ronald Lee, Region 1 police director and Pangasinan police director, respectively, pointed out the issues he discussed in his columns and radio program.

He also told investigators whom he suspects could be behind the attempt on his life and cited the threats of a ranking elected official prior to the May polls.

He reportedly named his principal suspect who may have been hurt by his criticisms made over his radio program in dwPR and in his column may be behind the incident but asked his visitors not to divulge his information to the media at any time.

Maganes has requested for a police security detail.

Maganes also laughed at a cardboard left by the suspects near the crime scene that reads “Huwag tularan, pusher ako”.

“I believe if they were successful in killing me, that would be their tactic to divert the issue,” he said.

He said he is ready to undergo drug test to prove he is not a drug user. “I’ve never used illegal drugs in my whole life,” he said.

Maganes celebrated his 58^th birthday a day before he was shot. “Maybe that was their birthday gift to me,” he said.

Pimentel said a special investigation task group was already formed to investigate his case. “We will produce. Ronald (Lee) can do that,” Pimentel assured Maganes.

Maganes said he has been receiving death threats, adding that neighbors had informed him of strangers that asked about him in their barangay.

It may be recalled that Maganes ran but withdrew his gubernatorial bid in the May 2016 polls.

“This is the first (attempted media killing) and God forbid there will be no more repeat of such incident,” he said. (Tita Roces)

Media groups condemn slay attempt on Maganes

THE National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP)-Pangasinan chapter denounced the attempt on the life of Virgilio Maganes, columnist of Northern Watch and commentator of radio station dwPR in Dagupan City, Pangasinan early Tuesday morning.

The NUJP expressed alarm that the perpetrators even had the gall to disguise the attempted gun slay as another pretext for the war on drugs, when they left a cardboard sign saying, “Huwag Tularan, Pusher Ako” in an obvious attempt to mislead investigators.

“Or as has been the case in most such killings, (to) lose interest in the death of one more “subhuman,” as they have been described by our leader.”

“As soon as the assassins fled, he alit to seek help and saw a bystander pick up the cardboard sign and place it inside the tricycle,” the NUJP statement said.

“Had they succeeded, it may have not even mattered that Maganes is not in the list of drug personalities in Barangay San Blas, where he lives because, as has happened all too often, the cardboard sign would have been all that was needed to brand him guilty and, therefore, deserving of death sans due process.”

“This added dimension to the thankfully unsuccessful attempt on Maganes’ life highlights the increasing risks faced not only by journalists but by most anyone who may be killed with impunity in the name of the government’s war on drugs,” NUJP said.

NUJP said it put “the responsibility for this frustrated murder squarely on the shoulders of this administration, which has created the almost perfect cover for those who wish to silence the press and inflict mayhem on the general populace. “

KBP Chairman Noel Sibayan said Maganes identified politics as the probable reason for the shooting incident.

Both NUJP and the KBP demanded the speedy solving of the case and identity of the mastermind of the slay attempt. (With report from PIA)

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