PTFoMS looking into ‘land row’ in Malabanan slay –Palace exec

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security on Saturday said it is looking into whether journalist Jess Malabanan was involved in a land dispute that might have led to his murder in Samar.

“In fact, gusto na niyang mag-retire rito, at umuwi sa Samar dahil gusto na niyang mag-farming. Isa po ‘yun sa tinitingnan natin, itong kaniyang panibagong career, ika nga,” said PTFoMS executive director Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco at the Laging Handa briefing.

(He wanted to retire [from being a journalist] and go home to Samar because he wanted to do farming. That’s one of the things we’re looking at, his new career.)

“Sinisilip po natin ‘yang mga usaping lupa, baka may nakaaway siya roon. At doon po tayo nakasentro ngayon, doon sa lugar kung saan siya pinaslang,” Egco added.

(We are looking at possible land issues, perhaps he had a confrontation there. We are focused now on the place where he was killed.)

Based on his initial inquiry, Egco said that Malabanan was not criticizing any personality in his publication Manila Standard, and was only publishing “feel good” stories.

Malabanan worked with news organization Reuters in reporting the drug war killings under the Duterte administration, a reporting that earned a Pulitzer Prize award in 2018.

Malabanan was shot in the head by unidentified gunmen in Calbayog City on Wednesday night while watching television and tending a family store.

The Samar Police Provincial Office (PPO) said it would create a special investigation task group to probe the killing of Malabanan. —LBG, GMA News

PTFoMS looking into ‘land row’ in Malabanan slay –Palace exec
Source: Filipino Viral News PH