MANILA– The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS) on November 2 welcomed the arrest of a suspect in the June ambush of Capiz broadcaster Jay Lavapiez and called for the continued investigation and prosecution of cases involving attacks against journalists.

The suspect, identified by the alias “Doming,” was arrested on October 30 in Barangay Poblacion, Tapaz, Capiz, by personnel of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO6) and other police units, according to a police report.

Authorities said the suspect was allegedly involved in the June 22 ambush of Lavapiez, a radio broadcaster and station manager of Baskog Radyo.

At around 5:40 a.m. on June 22, Lavapiez was driving along the national highway in Barangay Cagay, Roxas City, on his way to host his radio program when two men on a motorcycle blocked his path and fired four shots from a 9mm pistol at the driver’s side of his vehicle.

Lavapiez escaped unharmed after maneuvering his vehicle into a roadside gutter.

Police arrested the suspect through an intelligence-driven operation led by the Tapaz Municipal Police Station, in coordination with the Capiz Provincial Police Intelligence Unit, 2nd Capiz Provincial Mobile Force Company, Roxas City Police Station, Regional Intelligence Division, and Regional Special Operations Group.

The arrest warrant was issued on August 12, 2026, by the Regional Trial Court Branch 15 in Roxas City in connection with an attempted murder case. The court set bail at ₱120,000.

The suspect was placed under the custody of the Tapaz Municipal Police Station for documentation and legal disposition. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

PTFOMS Executive Director Undersecretary Jose Torres Jr. commended PRO6, led by PBGen Randulf T. Tuaño, and the operating units for the arrest.

Torres said authorities must sustain their efforts to ensure that the case proceeds through the legal system, adding that arrests should be followed by continued investigations and accountability through due process.

He also called for renewed attention to unresolved cases involving the killing of journalists and urged those with credible information to report it to the proper authorities.

The PTFOMS statement coincided with the observance of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on November 2.

The United Nations General Assembly established the observance through Resolution 68/163, adopted on December 18, 2013, to draw attention to the lack of accountability for crimes against journalists and urge governments to investigate attacks and bring perpetrators to justice.

The date commemorates the November 2, 2013, killing of French journalists Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon in Mali while they were on assignment for Radio France Internationale.

Torres said addressing violence against media workers requires sustained cooperation among law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, the judiciary, media organizations, civil society, and the public.

The PTFOMS reaffirmed its commitment to coordinating with national and international partners to strengthen journalist safety and support efforts to investigate and prosecute attacks against media workers. (Ang Pahayagan Reportorial Desk)