Ang Pahayagan

THE Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) has requested the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Task Force Usig of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for a deeper probe on a shooting incident last July 15, 2024, in San Pablo City Laguna that targeted a local reporter.

PTFoMS Executive Director Usec. Paul M. Gutierrez, said they question the spot report submitted by San Pablo City chief of police, PLtCol. Wilhelmino S. Saldivar Jr. that downgraded the incident to a mere “threat and malicious mischief.”

“The initial report we received claimed at least 7 shots were fired at the victim, Marc Angelo Barrios, a reporter of Laguna Patrol, by two unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen who managed to escape. And to classify this incident as a simple case of malicious mischief by the local police raises everyone’s eyebrows,” Gutierrez said.

“Fortunately, Barrios was unhurt and only his motorcycle was damaged,” he added.

In his letter to PBGen. Mathew Bacay, Director, Directorate for Investigation and Detection Management (DIDM) and P/MGen. Leo Francisco, Director, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Gutierrez also noted that the local police also failed to identify Barrios as a member of the press but merely as an “office staff.”

“As the government’s official mechanism to address all violations on the right to life, liberty, and security of all members of the press, the ‘discrepancies’ we noted from the police report and the actual facts of the case as gathered, deserves deeper investigation and the suspects identified and arrested,” Gutierrez said.

He stressed that the best deterrent against violent attacks on members of the press is to ensure that the perpetrators are identified, arrested, and charged in court.

Gutierrez also said they received information that a potential person of interest (POI), a son of a barangay chairman who has been previously linked to the local illegal drugs trade has already been identified but is yet to be questioned by the police.

Based on the spot report of the incident forwarded to the PTFoMS by Saldivar, Barrios was on his way home to Bgy. San Gregorio on board a motorcycle past 11:00 pm last July 15 when the two suspects riding in another motorcycle fired at him near the gate of a local subdivision.